In support of Children’s Mental Health Week, the Warwick Independent Schools Foundation has launched a new service, dedicated to young people’s mental health and wellbeing.  The Foundation, which comprises Warwick School, Warwick Junior School, and King’s High and Warwick Prep, is drawing  on their own resources, based on years of experience and specialist guidance, to provide access for  anyone with an interest in mental health and wellbeing, as well as the wider school community.  Their new Wellbeing Hub will be available at  https://www.foundationathome.co.uk/wellbeinghub 

Advice and support for parents and the wider school community includes blogs from specialists on current topics, practical tips on balancing life and homeschooling, advice on digital learning, and links to a wealth of external resources.    Pupils take a pro-active lead in promoting wellbeing in the schools. Rose Agnew, a pupil at King’s High, was recently joined by Prince William in a video she presented for the Diana Award Charity in National Anti Bullying Week, and King’s is one of the Diana Award’s UK National Showcase Schools.   

Warwick School has been promoting service in the community as a way of helping others while also boosting self-esteem and mental wellbeing. Year 11s have collected a mountain of sports items for The Children’s Society, donated by boys from all year groups. Boys in Year 13 have been signing up as volunteers to help with the roll out of the COVID vaccine. Senior Prefect, Archie McCusker is helping at a surgery near Banbury. He says: ‘I have found it great to help out. To see the smiles on the faces of people getting their vaccines is wonderful’. 

Richard Nicholson, Principal Foundation, says: ‘Our pupils’ and our community’s wellbeing is at the heart of all we do.  By pooling our shared experience and expertise, we are able to offer something that may be of wider use in these challenging times. Our young people’s health and wellbeing is all our future.’