BROMLEY, Lewisham & Greenwich Mind has launched a new mental health initiative for pupils at two Bromley secondary schools following the tragic deaths of two former pupils.
The Minds Up programme, which is being run at Eden Park High School and Newstead Wood School, was made possible entirely through donations raised by the families of Oliver Stubbs and Laura Harrington.
The scheme was launched in September 2021 and will run until June 2022.
Charlotte Fletcher, Head of Development for BLG Mind, said:
“Thanks to the generous donations raised in memory of Laura and Oliver we have been able to create Minds Up to support the mental wellbeing of students at Eden Park High and Newstead Wood schools.
“We are honoured and touched that Laura and Oliver’s families have entrusted BLG Mind to deliver this support, and that, at a hugely difficult time for them, they are thinking of the mental wellbeing of other young people.”
In a joint statement, Sharon and Richard Stubbs, the parents of Oliver Stubbs, said:
“We’re really pleased that young people in these schools will have access to such vital mental health support. Our wish is that this project will help prevent any more unnecessary deaths.”
Minds Up aim to increase awareness of stress, wellbeing and mental health in the school community. The content of the programme was informed by workshops held by the BLG Mind Mental Health Training team with teaching and pastoral staff as well as a cross-section of young people from each school.
The sessions will be delivered by BLG Mind trainer Kirat Kalyan, who has substantial experience of working with young people and has developed a programme appropriate for the differing needs of pupils in Year 7 through to Year 13.
Kirat said:
“We may only be two weeks into the project but it has been an absolute joy facilitating the growth and seeing those lightbulb moments for the students across the two schools.
“We are only just getting started.”
In addition to receiving mental health training, every pupil will receive details of organisations they can contact should they need help, as well as the staff in their schools who can support them.
