Young people at Bridgnorth Endowed are already benefitting from a new wellbeing support service that was recently launched in school.
Delivered by Shropshire’s Youth Support Team, students are given the opportunity to talk to experienced youth workers, Ian Hollingsworth and Jane Sutherland, who come in to the school every Tuesday.
During the weekly visits, anyone can engage in either a walk-and-talk session or drop in for a discreet chat with refreshments.
There is a private space available in The 1503 cafeteria, where students can meet up with the youth workers, who are seen as additional trusted adults within the school.
The relationship is a voluntary one and pupils can start and end it whenever they choose to. No topic is off-limits and anything discussed is completely confidential, unless further safeguarding action is needed.
The service forms part of the local authority’s Early Help strategy designed to support children, young people and their families as soon as a problem emerges, rather than leaving it to escalate.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, mounting evidence has highlighted its marked impact on children and young people’s mental health and it is widely recognised that extra support is needed.
BES strongly believes that early intervention is vital as young people face many new and difficult challenges – in relation to work, study, and relationships – and feels the new service is an important addition to the raft of measures already in place.
To access some time with Ian or Jane, students are asked to approach them on Tuesday lunchtimes, further information is available via the School Office or Mrs Mitchell.
