Published on: October 25, 2023
The Derby / shire Changing Lives, Ilkeston MHST have been working alongside Parkside High CIC Youth Organisation during their HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme over the school holidays.
The Compass Changing Lives team have joined the programme twice a week to deliver mindful and wellbeing craft activities to the young people aged 8+.
The children have enjoyed making stress balls, positive affirmation fortune tellers, dream catchers and positive pebbles. Many of the young people have enjoyed crafting, whilst chatting with peers and practitioners at Changing Lives. Young people even suggested their own activities (origami) and taught fellow peers and practitioners their craft skills.
Our partnership with Parkside High HAF programme has allowed us to continue building links and integrating into the local community.
Hannah Johnson, mental health practitioner at the Ilkeston team said “ Our partnership with Parkside High HAF programme has allowed us to continue building links and integrating into the local community, making many more families aware of the service that we offer and normalising mental health support for children and young people.
“Many children have recognised our service or practitioners from being in their school, which allows us to chat with young people about mental health and topics which interest them.
“We are hoping the more visible we are in the local community, the more likely children, young people and families are to access our service for support at an earlier stage as they see us as a friendly and approachable service.”
The team received some great feedback from the children and young people who took part in the activities as well as the Parkside High staff members.
We hope to continue building our relationship with Parkside High Alternative Provision during the new academic year.
Derby and Derbyshire Mental Health Support , mental health , MHSTs , Schools , whole school approach