Mental Health Awareness/Cost of Living Support Newsletter

14th May 2024

 

Welcome to our monthly wellbeing blog for

May 2024

We aim to support our children and families as much as possible. We hope you find some activities and advice here that you find useful.   Please click here to visit the Wellbeing section of our website: https://www.colleylaneprimary.org.uk/our-school/safeguarding-and-wellbeing/wellbeing/ Or contact wellbeing@colley.windsoracademytrust.org.uk to speak to a member of the pastoral team.

 

Action for happiness

Action for happiness releases a monthly calendar to help support children's mental health and wellbeing. This month is May. Please click the link below to find the interactive version of the calendar.

https://actionforhappiness.org/calendar

 

What we do at school

We try to practise Mindfulness in our classes during each week. Each blog will contain a link to a popular mindfulness activity that has been used within school.

This month's choices are:

The Body Scanner! Mindfulness for children.

The Body Scanner! Mindfulness for Children

Story Corner

We also have a story to support mental health and wellbeing each month, each story will look at a different feeling, emotion or experience.

Click the link below to hear this Month's story:

It’s okay not to be okay - A story about the importance of looking after your own mental health as well as others.

Sophie Says Books | It's ok not to be ok | Children's Mental Health | Children's Books Read Aloud

 

Community Corner

 

Families in Dudley can access mental health social care support. Please take a look at the link below to find out more.

 

Worried about your mental health and need a helping hand? Mental Health Awareness Week is held in May and we want everyone to be aware of the support available locally. We offer adult mental health social care support, which includes Woodside Day Service where people are helped to improve their mental health through a variety of activities with mental health specialists. You can ask your GP or nurse to refer you to this service.

Dudley Council also offer advice on the current Cost of Living Crisis, offering helpful advice covering support with household costs through to mental health and wellbeing. To access please see the link below.

Did you know that there is a cost of living web page (Cost of living link)  on the Dudley Council website, with advice and links to support you with rising household costs? Wide-ranging topics are covered, from national cost of living payments and advice for people struggling to pay bills, to transport support, care costs, child support and information for anyone who needs help with their mental health and wellbeing.

 

 

 

Did you know that Places of Welcome exist across Dudley borough?

Places of Welcome are run by local community groups who want everyone in their neighbourhood to have a place to go for a friendly face, a free hot drink and a conversation if and when they need it.

Each Place of Welcome is unique but all provide a place for people to connect with one another, find belonging and offer gifts and skills that interest them.

Places of Welcome take place in a variety of different venues including churches, community centres, libraries, mosques, temples and other community group buildings.

If you are visiting a Place of Welcome for the first time, check with the venue that they will be open as usual.

Find out more about Places of Welcome or join the Dudley Network by going to the Places of Welcome Webpage

 

Mental Health Awareness Week 13th - 16th May

During May we will be focusing on ‘moving more for our mental health’ as this is the theme for Mental Health Awareness week. Dudley Council website contains lots of ideas and information about how children and families can get active in Dudley in 2024. We have listed some below to get you started.

 

https://healthydudley.co.uk/starting-well/move-more/

 

Park Active – Outdoor, group fitness sessions in five parks every week. Led by trained volunteers and for all ages and fitness abilities. Everyone is able to work at their own level and enjoy the benefits of exercising outdoors. Visit Park Active on the Let’s Get website for locations and times. Ramblers Wellbeing Walks Dudley – Volunteer or partner organisation-led short and friendly walks providing a great way to be active, socialise and have fun. Visit the Wellbeing Walks website for a list of walks. Time2Breathe Walks – Take time out in nature for a relaxing 1-hour wellness walk. Every last Friday of the month 1 - 2pm. Further details on the Dudley Nature Reserves Facebook page. Healthy Hubs – Four parks in Dudley provide a varied weekly programme of exercise sessions, from Tuesday through to Saturday. Sessions are led by the Park Activator staff team at Mary Stevens Park (Stourbridge), Huntingtree Park (Halesowen), Netherton Park and Silver Jubilee Park (Coseley). View the Let’s Get website for timetables of each park. Parkrun – Volunteer-organised weekly, timed 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you. Dudley Parkrun is at the Dell Stadium, Pensnett on Saturdays at 9am. Register and find out more on the Dudley parkrun website. Junior Parkrun – Volunteer-organised weekly, timed 2k event for juniors aged 4 – 14 years old. Held on Sundays, 9am at Stevens Park, Wollescote. Register and find out more on the junior parkrun website.

A new website has been launched for children and young people living in Dudley.  The website provides information and links to services and resources on important health and wellbeing topics, such as mental wellbeing and sexual health. Click here to take a look.