We were privileged recently to have Grainne O’Neill from the Niamh Louise Foundation leading our school assembly. She shared pictures and discussed the role of the Foundation in our community. Grainne encouraged all pupils to be open about their mental health and use all facilities available, both inside and outside school to access help, if needed. Last year fourteen Safer School Team pupils completed the ‘Empowering Young Minds’ training programme, led by Niamh Louise representatives and Chloe Kelly (Year 14) shared her thoughts on why others throughout school should apply for this training set to take place in the new year. She explained,
“There are some things which really stood out for me during the six weeks, for example when we got to create ’emotion jars’ and our own ‘Mental Health First Aid kits’… Year 14 aren’t going to be at RSD for much longer, so we need you to embrace this amazing opportunity, whether it is because you want a free hoodie, want to have fun with your friends or whether you simply want to be able to make a change to your own mental health or be able to help your friends out. You will not regret it!”
Joanne Shaw (Year 14), who represented the Young Enterprise group ‘Team Aspire’, handed over a cheque for £500, which the group had raised from selling their positive mental health journals to pupils, staff, parents and local businesses. They chose to split their profits between the Niamh Louise Foundation and Action Mental Health as these were charities “close to their hearts.” Grace Ferguson (Year 13) and Ellie Greenaway (Year 13) represented the Charities Committee and the Safer School Team. They presented Grainne with another cheque of £540 and explained this was from a non-uniform day, ‘Big Breakfast’ for Sixth Form and the World Mental Health Day celebrations which took place at RSD just a few weeks ago.
Well done again everyone, absolutely fantastic work.
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