Posted on Monday 21st October 2024
Photo shows a workshop in action.
More than 5,000 school children from across Staffordshire will benefit from a project to help improve their mental wellbeing and keep them safe when online.
The Barney & Echo Mindfulness and Internet Safety Project will deliver sessions in 70 schools having received £12,000 funding from local County Councillors.
The project, delivered by Amber Bee CIC, works with children aged 9 to 11 to promote the idea that mental health is just as important as physical health, especially whilst accessing the internet, gaming and social media platforms.
The interactive sessions can be delivered during PSHE lessons, extra-curricular clubs and at home. The sessions encourage children to discuss openness, confidence and how they feel in stressful situations in a fun and informative setting. Sessions include interactive workbooks, a parent pack and teacher resources. The projects will start this term and will have been completed by March 2025.
Nik Horabin from Amber Bee CIC said:
“This is all about helping children improve their mental wellbeing, especially whilst online and we’re incredibly excited for this funding which will allow us to deliver so many sessions.
“The focus of the project is to help children appreciate their community, understand their impact on others, make good choices, create resilience, and increase their optimism for the future. The workshops are delivered by local practitioners who are all invested in the wellbeing of the community.
“The project will be a real success in Staffordshire and we hope that the activities help children learn strategies to avoid online bullies, misuse of gaming & social media, as well as negative interaction with others online.”
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities at Staffordshire County Council said:
“Staffordshire has always had a fantastic voluntary and community sector and supporting them remains a priority for the county council.
“Making sure children are resilient and have good mental wellbeing is important, it sets them up for later life and makes sure they play an active role in our communities. This is a great project that has been supported by over 20 councillors through their local community funding. It also involves parents/guardians, siblings and the wider community which is important.”
Heather Addison, Assistant Head at Silkmore CP School in Stafford said: “The school are thrilled to be able to use the Barney & Echo, Caught in the Web Internet Safety Project for the benefit of our years five and six.”
Through the Staffordshire County Council Community Fund, each County Councillor has up to £2,500 to allocate to community projects in their area. Projects that help people to look after themselves or others or the place they live in may be considered. People should speak to their local County Councillor in the first instance and then apply on the Staffordshire County Council’s website.
Further details on the project are available on our webpage.