Alnwick charity secures funding after school pupils share mental health concerns
A charity supporting the wellbeing of Alnwick students has secured funding after young people shared their mental health worries.
BOOST is delighted to have received renewed funding from the Kerry Grassroots Fund at Community Foundation North East and The Reed Educational Trust Limited to support pupils at The Duchess’s Community High School (DCHS).
The funding follows listening activities organised jointly with the high school to provide a snapshot of how students feel in school.
This work included a summer survey and a series of focus groups, giving students the chance to talk openly about their experiences, concerns and what they feel would help.
More than half said they need help with stress, anxiety or both, while 80% said they worry about the wellbeing of friends or peers at least some of the time.
Less than a quarter said they are ‘doing OK’ or don’t need any wellbeing support.
For BOOST, the findings reinforce the importance of listening to young people and working in close partnership with the school to provide the right support at the right time.
BOOST trustee Julia Keenan said: “Young people have told us what matters to them. We’re really grateful that our funders are helping us turn their ideas into practical support.”
Duchess’s Community High School headteacher James Wilson said: “Listening to our young people is at the heart of what we do. BOOST helps us turn what they tell us into additional opportunities and support that can make a real difference.
“At a time when central budgets allocated to schools are at an all-time low, this vital funding stream allows us to offer activities that schools simply cannot normally provide.
“We are very lucky to have a charity working alongside us to provide opportunities and overcome barriers for our young people.”
With this funding, BOOST will once again be running its Christmas Challenge fundraiser, which will aim to double the amount raised so far.
Funding will be used to focus support on the areas students say are most important, including safe lunchtime activities, opportunities to talk and be heard, healthy breakfast snacks, resources to support students who are struggling with regulation and mental health champion training for year 12 students.
BOOST will also continue working with Community @NE66 to help young people build positive and safe relationships.