Cornwall Schools’ Wellbeing Hub Newsletter 4th October 2024
Friday 4th October 2024
Welcome to the Wellbeing Newsletter
Part 1 - Training and Events
Earlier this week I attended two excellent webinars. One was with the fabulous Dr Tina Rae looking at how we can best support children who are experiencing EBSA. The session was based on her excellent, practical handbook, “Understanding and Supporting Children and YP with EBSA”. The second session was with Empathy Lab UK on the links between ‘reading for empathy’ and social and emotional learning. Both provided plenty to think about and both had ‘Hope’ as a key message to take away and reflect on.
All change for www.headstartkernow.org.uk and the wellbeing hub
We are delighted to let you know that our refreshed and redesigned website went live earlier in the week. We made it simpler to find what you as professionals supporting children and families need as well adding a new, more prominent area for parents and carers.
Have a look and let us know what you think!
The fresh new look is thanks to the wonderful Kat and Mat at Iteracy.com. Our attention now turns to our Young People’s site www.startnowcornwall.org.uk. We are looking forward to working with C&YP to ensure they get the site they need… We can’t wait to get started.
It’s Optimistic October!
Check out the Action for Happiness Optimistic October Calendar
Digital Resilience Conference (FREE)
9.30-3.30, 21st November 2024,
Venton Centre, Chapel Parc, Newquay TR8 5AH
The Digital Resilience Conference will be an opportunity for professionals to explore issues related to children and young people’s engagement in the digital world, with a focus on solutions and practical support. We have speakers with a wealth of experience supporting young people around their digital lives, as well as extensive academic and practical knowledge of the issues related to the digital world. Topics will include responding to sexual image sharing, recognising and responding to issues with gaming and gambling, supporting young people with SEND around digital issues, and digital sex and relationships education. This event will be suitable for anyone who supports children and / or young people and has concerns around or an interest in the digital world.
Purpose of the day
This conference will bring together speakers with extensive knowledge and experience of responding to issues children and young people face in their digital lives. We’ll give practical advice and signpost to tools professionals can use to support them in their work. We’ll explore why ‘just don’t do it’ messages don’t work and what the alternatives are.
This event will be useful for professionals who support children and / or young people and want to learn more about how to respond to the issues they face in their digital lives. We’ll also consider these issues in the context of the ‘bigger picture’ of national policies and technology developments.
The event is being organised by the Headstart Kernow Digital Resilience Team. We’ve been developing resources to support professionals identify and respond to issues in children and young people’s digital lives for the last six years. We created the Digital Resilience Tool, which helps professionals understand the risks involved in young people’s digital activities. We got input from over 600 young people as well as consulting professionals from across the workforce. We created versions of the tool for parents/carers and more recently for those supporting young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We have a range of other resources, including online training, podcasts and blogs – you can access all of them at www.headstartkernow.org.uk/digital-resilience.
Was That Ok Tool Launch
The conference will mark the official launch of the ‘Was That Ok’ tool. This tool will help young people understand whether something they experienced, witness or have done was ok, or whether it represents harmful sexual behaviour. The tool was made with input from over 50 young people in Cornwall and has lots of information and advice, including what support is available, what happens if an incident is reported to the police or a professional and what the law says.
Our Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP)
Sexting Safeguarding Training
A two hour session supporting you to deal with safeguarding issues related to youth sexual image sharing, sometimes referred to as ‘sexting’. The session will cover:
- The law governing youth sexual image sharing, including official police responses to consensual image sharing between minors.
- The problems associated with using scare tactics, including preventing disclosure and spreading inaccurate information.
- The best way to respond to aggravated sexting incidents using the harm reduction approach.
This training is delivered as part of the Headstart Digital Resilience offer.
Dates available September 2024 - June 2025. Book your place here
Belonging – an antidote to trauma, Dr Lisa Cherry
14th November 2024 17.00 – 19.00 (online)
The need to belong is a fundamental and human motivation – a sense of fitting in or feeling like you are important in the context of something bigger, such as a family, a setting, a community is part of our internal drive. In Lisa's research, 'movement' was a theme that consistently showed up across all the participants across home, education setting and community. Where movement is unavoidable, such as for those children known to the social care system, unaccompanied asylum seekers, refugees for example, then cultivating belonging is essential. The adults that those children become will invariably consider their relationship to belonging across the life course. This event offers the attendee an original conceptual model and insight into cultivating belonging as an antidote to trauma. It raises the importance that all those working with children and young people have in considering the adult that the child will become embedding practices that make the difference to those children and young people who rely on relationships, settings and communities.
In this session you will:
- understand how 'unbelonging' has been baked into systems, services and settings.
- deepen your understanding of the impact of trauma, inequity and marginalisation in services/education that further add to harm.
- be provided with a working conceptual model for culture change, for cultivating belonging and for making a difference to children and young people.
‘Feeling Safe‘ – 2 Day Protective Behaviours Foundation Course
Fridays: 15th and 22nd November
Chy Trevail (Council Building)
Bodmin
More information / booking and details of future dates
‘Feeling Safe’ is a basic fundamental need for children and young people to feel they belong and can succeed at school (to even get to / stay in school for some YP).
‘Feeling Safe’ and recognising when we’re unsafe and knowing what we can do about it is crucial for helping children and young people ‘survive and thrive’ online or, when at risk from County Lines exploitation or just feeling comfortable about being out and about in their communities.
‘Feeling safe’ is at the heart of trauma recovery, relational practice, being adventurous in learning and in life and is a basic Human Right.
The Protective Behaviours 2 Day Foundation Training explores ‘feeling safe’ in all these aspects and more and in the context of supporting children, young people and families here in Cornwall as we work together to help ensure Cornwall is a Brilliant Place to be a Child and Grow Up.
Join us and find out more.
Presley the Pug activity guide and webinar
Like all dogs, Presley the Pug loves to play, run, and snuggle up under his warm blanket. But sometimes, Presley gets so excited that his feelings take over. Sometimes it’s anger, sometimes stress, sometimes worry. He doesn’t know how to calm down! What can Presley do when he feels like this? Luckily Presley’s canine friends are nearby with some wise words, and they share some of the tricks that have worked for them! This therapeutic activity book was developed by expert child psychologist Dr Karen Treisman. It features a colourful therapeutic story designed to help start conversations about coping with big feelings and how to find calm. It explains how Presley (and the reader!) is able to create a ‘mind retreat’ – an imaginary safe space where he can relax. The activity book is also packed with creative activities and photocopiable worksheets to help children to explore the ideas raised in the story, including regulating and coping tools like sensory boxes, relaxation exercises and easy yoga poses. It also features advice and practical strategies for parents, carers and professionals supporting children aged 5-10. See a video of Karen talking about Presley the Pug here.
Gilly the Giraffe webinar
Even though Gilly the Giraffe has many wonderful things in her life, she sometimes lacks confidence. Why does she have to stand out so much with her long neck, her long black tongue and her mosaic patches? Why do some of the other animals point and laugh at her? Can it be possible to be different and to be cool? This activity book developed by child psychologist Dr Karen Treisman combines a colourfully illustrated therapeutic story about Gilly the Giraffe to help start conversations, which is followed by a wealth of creative activities for children to explore and build upon some of the ideas raised in the story, and beyond! The activities are accompanied by extensive advice and practical strategies for parents, carers and professionals on how to help children aged 5-10 boost their self-esteem, self-belief, and confidence. Watch a video of Karen talking about Gilly here.
Trauma-informed thinking space module with Dr Mandy Davis and Dr Karen Treisman
A real, unscripted, unedited, & honest TI thinking space containing a series of reflective podcast style conversations about some of the thorny, nuanced, multi-layered aspects of TI practice in teams, systems, & organisations. Full of golden nuggets & enriching discussions. Here is a 17 min snippet to give you a flavour which is from the myths & dilemma’s section focusing on the question “Is Trauma Informed just about being sweet, nice, and kind?”
Supporting children and teens around bereavement, grief and death
An introduction on the impact of grief, loss, death and bereavement on children and teenagers; and underpinning ideas and creative, expressive, and practical strategies.
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Part 2 - News and resources
LAST CHANCE to Share Your Experiences of HeadStart Kernow!
HeadStart Kernow has delivered a broad range of projects focused on promoting the social, emotional, mental health, and wellbeing of children and young people.
Our Public Health team want to hear about your experiences with HeadStart Kernow to help us understand what works well and how we can make things better. No matter if you've been deeply involved or just had a bit of contact with HeadStart Kernow, your thoughts are really valuable to us. Your feedback is crucial in helping us understand the reach, impact, and future potential of HeadStart Kernow’s work.
We've set up three different surveys to gather feedback from:
- professionals
- parents and carers
- children and young people
Pick the one that applies to you and share what you think. The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.
The surveys will be open until Monday, 7 October.
Take the survey here: https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/headstart-kernow-evaluation/
Arts Lab update
The Arts Lab report for year 3 has just been released. (See weblink below)
Arts Lab is OPEN for applications from schools and community groups, and artists this week. Details available at https://feastcornwall.org/arts-lab/
Deadline for all applications: 11am, Friday 4th October 2024.
World Mental Health Day 2024 – 10th October
Resources Toolkit from the Mentally Healthy Schools Team
World Mental Health Day is on October 10th. This year the theme is ‘it is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace.’
For schools and colleges, this means not only supporting the mental wellbeing of their students, but also prioritising the wellbeing of their staff.
The Mentally Health Schools Toolkit contains guidance and resources to help leadership teams and senior mental health leads to prioritise the wellbeing of their staff as part of a whole-school or college approach to mental wellbeing.
It also contains resources for use by staff to support their mental health and wellbeing.
Hello Yellow is back on World Mental Health Day
⭐ Grab your digital fundraising pack filled with all you need to kick-start plans from our Hello Yellow quiz and sponge cake recipe to a fundraising checklist, posters and wellbeing tips.
👕 We know things are tough right now – and M&S have donated a limited stock of yellow t-shirts for young people who would like to take part. If you or a young person you know might struggle to find something yellow to wear, contact the team: helloyellow@youngminds.org.uk
Hello Yellow | World Mental Health Day | YoungMinds
Wellbeing Resources for Teaching Assistants - Education Support
Teaching assistants are a vital part of the machinery of the educational institution. In a climate of population growth, school class sizes are bound to get larger. Larger units produce more complex environments in which to practice education. For many teachers, the employment of teaching assistants allows classroom control and pupil comprehension to be enhanced. The presence of multiple assistants is going to play an increasing role in schools in the decades ahead. With this in mind, it is more important than ever that teaching assistants are equipped with the tools to handle the pressure. Education support has published a resources pack aimed at helping you achieve this objective. If interested, please follow the link below:
Language Matters:
Do I contribute to a sense of safety with the words I use?
Another excellent and thoughtful image created by Juliet Young, the Creative Clinical Psychologist.
Brook Wellbeing Hub for YP in Cornwall aged 11-25
Brook are expanding our mental health support for young people in Cornwall with the launch of our new Wellbeing Hub.
Open to 11-25 year olds, the Wellbeing Hub will offer a range of early intervention programmes led by our trained specialists and counsellors. With our non-judgemental, need-led support, young people will be guided towards making positive changes in their lives. Programmes include:
- Mental Health Literacy: group and one-to-one sessions aimed at enhancing young people’s awareness of mental health, and the practical steps they can take to improve their wellbeing
- My Life: through our unique one-to-one support programme, young people are supported to set their own wellbeing goals, while also furthering their knowledge and understanding of sexual health and relationships.
- Counselling: 8-12 50 minute counselling sessions aimed at supporting young people address the issues negatively affecting their mental health and wellbeing.
The Wellbeing Hub is now open and taking referrals, and all our programmes are free to 11-25 year olds living or studying in Cornwall.
For more information, as well as details on how to refer on to the programmes please visit:
https://www.brook.org.uk/regions/cornwall-wellbeing-hub/
New approach to measuring pupil wellbeing:
free survey resources and guidance
CORC has launched a suite of free Wellbeing Measurement for Schools (WMfS) resources.
These have been developed to support schools to design their own questionnaires and surveys to understand more about the wellbeing of the pupils in their schools.
The resource includes tried and tested sets of questions covering five broad areas of wellbeing, each with various questionnaires to choose from, and a comprehensive step-by-step guide and additional resources. The five areas are:
- Emotional health
- Emotional strengths and skills
- Relationships
- School life
- Help and support
Please visit the Measuring pupil wellbeing pages to download these new modular surveys and our step-by-step guides.
- Measuring staff wellbeing
- Support for schools
- Measuring wellbeing in colleges
- Measuring wellbeing in the early years
The resources will help schools to better understand their pupil’s wellbeing. CORC’s approach gives schools the flexibility to focus on what is important to them with the rigour that comes from using validated questionnaires.
Visit For Schools (corc.uk.net)
Why We Need Sleep
Download a Digital Schools Pack from the Teen Sleep Hub. It is packed full of posters, graphics and advice sheets that they can download, print off and share.
Download the Digital Schools Pack