DO you know an individual or school/organisation that has been inspirational in providing new opportunities for its students and helping them achieve their goals through exciting, innovative and creative projects?
If so we want to hear from ahead of our third Warrington Guardian School Awards.
Last year students at Culcheth High School scooped the Innovation Award for their work to tackle mental health problems among young people.
Teachers and students have been promoting the importance of wellbeing as part of the Future in Mind project.
The initiative includes training teachers and students to spot the signs of mental health problems so they can help people suffering from different issues.
The project is run in partnership with Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group and at a time when many young people face a range of anxieties, those nominating Culcheth High for the award said it could not be more relevant to teenagers’ lives.
Fourteen schools across the town have signed up to the initiative so far and it is hoped it will enable 11 to 16-year-olds to access support and advice whenever they need it.
Students Megan Pomphret and Ella Hughes joined their teacher Jo Shaw and Steve Tatham, from Warrington CCG, to collect the award, sponsored by Priestley College.
Megan said: “It has been a great year, so many people have contributed to the initiative and worked hard.
“We have focused on giving students enough confidence to talk about their thoughts and feelings.”
The school has teamed up with a number of mental health charities and CAMHS, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, to deliver the project.
It has been focused on preventing serious mental health problems with a range of activities both inside and outside of the classroom.
Pupils are given the chance to become Young Health Champions and create support networks. Staff receive mental health first aid training and create bespoke lesson plans.
Teacher Jo Shaw said the initiative aims to help young people be the best that they can be.
Steve Tatham added: “It has been a really great partnership.
“We want services to be more accessible for students.”
To nominate a school or individual for our Innovation Award, click here.
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