I am fresh off the buzz of having completed the Manchester Half Marathon a few months ago, raising £1000 for the Campaign Against Living Miserably! I now want to push myself again and am happy to share I will be running in the London Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday 13th October 2024. I'll be running for Place2Be

One in five children and young people now have a diagnosable mental health issue. That’s six children in every classroom with a condition like depression or anxiety.

Place2Be reached around 243,000 children and young people, supporting them with issues such as bereavement, eating disorders and anxiety

My secondary school counsellor Adele was someone I could speak to in private about personal issues I did not want to share with anybody else. At 22 she is still someone I speak to today if I need a little advice or a morale boost. The lack of proper investment in counselling systems in UK schools, both public and private is shocking. When students do not have access to adequate mental health support, they are often left without safe channels to express their feelings and thoughts. This situation can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including heightened stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

Place2Be focus on four key areas:

-School Services – our counsellors provide one-to-one counselling and group session.

-Training and learning for school staff and families – to build confidence and knowledge within schools and communities. We use a ‘whole school approach’.

-Build an understanding of children’s mental health – through the government and localcommunities.

-Provide training and qualifications – to build a diverse and inclusive mental health workforce.

£16 - could pay for a child to speak to a qualified counsellor about their worries during their school lunch break

£50 could pay for a child struggling with trauma to have a 50-minute one-to-one session with a counsellor.

Feel free to check out my training below :)