IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN THE ISLAND’S PRIMARY SCHOOLS

A Manx mental health charitable organisation has received a grant from Manx Lottery Trust to allow it to continue its mental health education for primary school children.

Isle Listen, has been awarded £32,750 from the Trust’s Dormant Assets Fund towards supporting the programme for a further year. The programme was originally launched in a number of primary schools at the start of the 2021 academic year, and the funding will allow the Charity to maintain these existing relationships and eventually extend it to all Island primary schools.

As part of the programme, Wellbeing Facilitators deliver a series of age-appropriate mental health classroom sessions on four key topics – Emotional Literacy, Self Esteem, Positive Relationships and Coping Strategies. These are delivered to all pupils in year three to six, in eight 30-minute sessions per year group, and can be supplemented by assemblies or one-off sessions, as requested by the schools.

Andrea Chambers, Chief Executive of Isle Listen, said: ‘This funding from Manx Lottery Trust will benefit so many of our young people. We equip the primary school students with the tools they need, and can also demonstrate to parents, carers, and teachers how to facilitate conversations about mental health and create supportive environments.

‘Out of the Island’s 33 primary schools, we currently offer our programme in 26 of these, and with the generous support of the Manx Lottery Trust we aim to work with all Key Stage 2 children by the end of 2023.’

Facilitators also assist with the transition to secondary school, such as attending step-up days to ensure pupils know what support is available after leaving primary school.

Stephen Turner, Chairman of Manx Lottery Trust, said: ‘Isle Listen provide such fundamental support to local children and the community, and we’re pleased that they can now extend this worthwhile project to all Island primary schools.’

This grant was awarded from the Dormant Assets Fund. To find out more about the Manx Lottery Trust Dormant Assets Fund, please visit: www.mlt.org.im/grant-programmes