Starbank pupils support their peers’ mental health

A group of Year 9 pupils at Starbank School have been helping their younger peers with improving their wellbeing through a mentoring programme.

The Young Mental and Physical Wellbeing Champions have delivered a six-week programme to a group of Year 7 pupils, with a range of activities to improve their physical and mental health.

The ‘Active in Mind’ scheme is a pupil-led intervention project, with exercise and mindfulness sessions promoting better physical and mental wellbeing, underpinned by a peer-to-peer support system.

After being selected by the school to take part in the Youth Sport Trust’s project, the group achieved ‘Champion’ status after completing workshops that gave them training on ways individuals can improve sleep, their diet and stress levels through exercise routines. They also learned how our bodies react to different situations and studied practical activities which they could then implement through their own mentoring workshops.

The wellbeing mentors then got to work on delivering their six-week programme, which took the form of a series of games and activities while introducing the power of teamwork and communication.

By engaging with their peers, the activities are intended to encourage an environment where pupils can open up to their peers about the stresses or anxieties they may be experiencing.

Eden Boys show charitable spirit during Ramadhaan

Pupils from Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East reinforced their commitment to their local community by spreading kindness during Ramadhaan.

Throughout the holy month, Muslims are encouraged to engage in charitable activities and good deeds, and to serve their community.

The school has successfully forged key relationships with local community groups and embraced Ramadhaan as an opportunity to spread kindness to residents, pupils and staff. Pupils donated hot food and Eid gifts to Heartlands and Evergreen care homes, as well as St Basils Grosvenor Court homeless shelter.

The school’s pupil-led foodbank also stepped up its commitment to the community during the holy month. The foodbank, which runs every Friday and is part-financed by pupils’ fundraising activities, introduced a hot food home delivery service to ensure its regular service users received healthy, nutritious meals.