At the Ormiston Six Villages Academy, we have launched a new initiative to raise awareness of the mental health of our male students. We want to ensure that they feel encouraged to seek support where needed and create a positive environment in which to face the unique challenges males face around their mental health.

It is well known that through physical activity, you create a positive climate for improvement in mental health. More importantly, physical activity provides boys and men with a safe environment where they can feel part of a community that facilitates openness and the opportunity to share their emotions without the fear of judgement.

After seeing the amazing job that StrongMen does to support men suffering from mental health difficulties as a result of a bereavement, we have chosen to donate to the charity so they can continue to support men in the community to seek vital support when they need it most. By supporting this campaign, you will be directly facilitating: peer to peer telephone support so men can reach out for help; free counselling for those that require additional support; talks where men learn and discuss about the journey to overcome grief, and weekenders where men can adventure into the outdoors to develop a sense of brotherhood and share their experiences in a safe environment.

Our students will all be undertaking a variety of different physical challenges to encourage them to seek experiences that will develop a connection to their mental wellbeing and physical exercise, culminating in the first ‘OSVA Weekender’ where they will attend a residential to Snowdonia. The students will be camping at a lakeside venue to get them out in the remote and beautiful countryside of Snowdonia. They will be participating in archery, axe throwing, paddle boarding, wild swimming, team building challenges and ultimately will be hiking to the summit of Snowdon. This is an amazing opportunity for our boys to develop their own brotherhood and be involved in an experience that encourages community and develops a sense of belonging that is often a challenge for boys in the modern world.