Cardinal Newman High School in Bellshill has secured a grant of £2,500 from UKSE to facilitate the implementation of specialized mental health training for senior pupils. These students, participating in the SQA National 5 Mental Health and Wellbeing course, will not only acquire new skills to aid their peers but will also help increase awareness about mental health within the school community. The Health and Wellbeing Award was integrated into the school’s curriculum back in 2014, resulting in over 150 pupils being honoured with the SQA qualification. Building on this success, the National 5 Mental Health and Wellbeing course seeks to further enhance the existing middle school certification.
During the 2024-25 academic year, 40 pupils are set to take part in an additional certification alongside the SQA National 5 award. This dedicated program will empower students to promote and contribute to the school’s mental health and wellbeing initiatives. Senior pupils will establish a ‘safe space’ to offer peer support, fostering a better understanding of emotional development for young individuals. This support hub will be available to the school’s approximately 890 pupils.
The training will introduce pupils to the Solihull Approach, a globally recognized and evidence-based method for understanding young people’s emotional health and wellbeing. Laura Ferguson, the PE teacher at Cardinal High School, has been instrumental in shaping the training curriculum. She expressed pride in being among the first Scottish schools to introduce the SQA National 5 Mental Health and Wellbeing course. The generous financial assistance from UKSE enables students to attain additional accreditations, empowering them to not only assist their peers within Cardinal Newman High School but also providing them with lifelong skills to support their mental health.
Michele Johnson, an administrator at UKSE, praised Cardinal Newman High School for its proactive and inspiring efforts in promoting mental health awareness across the school community. The school anticipates the positive impacts that the forthcoming cohort of Wellbeing Warriors will experience as a result of the UKSE funding. This initiative reflects the school’s dedication to providing a safe environment for open discussions on emotions and feelings, with a continuous commitment to enhancing mental health education for its students.