Children’s and young people’s emotional wellbeing, physical and mental health are vitally important and underpin positive outcomes in childhood and successes as an adult.
What you said
Emotional wellbeing
Physical health
Eating well
Fear of crime
What we will do
We will work though the Healthy Growth Partnership to promote healthy eating and physical activity for young people and their families.
We will promote positive stories about young people to help redress negativity sometimes shown towards young people in the media.
Through campaigns we will promote emotional wellbeing.
Support the promotion of good mental health and wellbeing with young people
Building a confident workforce who share a common language and common approaches through a transformed system of cross-disciplinary, multi-agency and multi-layered services.
Progress so far...
Covid Survey
Between 30 April 2020 and 29 May 2020 City of Wolverhampton Council ran two ‘Wolverhampton Wellbeing’ surveys; one aimed at children and young people and the other aimed at parents and carers. This was as a result of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic resulting in a change in schooling and working practices for many. 332 responded to the Children and Young People survey. 697 people responded to the Parents / Carers survey. Key summary findings were
From the responses given in the surveys, it would seem that both children and young people and their parents / carers have generally understood and reacted well to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although children and young people have, in the main, found it more difficult to get motivated and concentrate on schoolwork, they generally seem to recognise the importance of keeping on top of school work and the potential implications for their future if they get behind.
While some children and young people express some concerns over their mental health and wellbeing, effects on relationships and worse feelings of loneliness, anger and frustration, it’s encouraging that most appear to have good (and some better as a result of the pandemic) relationships with friends, parents/carers and family members with whom they can talk about their feelings.
Parents and carers have generally responded positively to the pandemic, although, as with the children and young persons responses, they have had worse feelings of loneliness, sadness, anxiety during the pandemic.
There is some potential concern around a decrease in family exercise and healthy eating for a sizeable proportion of respondents, although responses indicate that families have still been undertaking exercise at least a few times a week.
Although nearly a third of parents and carers admit to not using a regular timetable for school work, this seems to have suited many children who feel they have benefited from a lack of structure and routine as it has allowed them to learn at their own pace.
Responses to both surveys share much in common with definite themes around being able to spend more time as a family, recognising the importance of feelings and emotions and talking them through, emphasising the importance of good relationships, both at home and within the wider community. Both children and young people and their parents / carers also share concerns about impacts of the pandemic on education.
Full report is available below
Mental Health Awareness week
Mental Health Awareness week took the theme of ‘Kindness’ this year. Young people were encouraged to share stories of kindness. Below shows some of the response. We also
Promoted National Teachers Day (May 20). Young people showed their thanks through photos and videos
Base 25 promoted wellbeing through a series of videos.
The PSHE advisory teacher and Headstart put together wellbeing activities for primary and secondary schools
Virtual Young People’s Kindness Conference 2020 took place involving Children in Care Council, HeadStart, Youth Council and Care leavers.
Daily features of HeadStart in the Community.
The Way
Supporting the ‘Being Healthy’ priority The Way is support 72 young people on the mentoring programme delivering over 203 mentoring sessions
Thank a teacher day
The City of Wolverhampton Council encouraged families to join in and celebrate National Thank a Teacher Day. The annual event allows parents and pupils to say a big thank you to their school and its staff.
Families with children in Wolverhampton said thank you by creating pictures and video messages from their children for their teachers.
Children wearing their school or nursery uniform shared the message's with the Wolverhampton Today Facebook page or directly to their school or childcare provider.
