Mental Health Awareness Week

We have had another fantastic week here at Rainford encouraging our staff and students to engage with the issues around mental health and spend time together doing activities designed to help them relax, have fun and talk more about their mental health.

We have had so many different events on this week including inspiring assemblies from State of Mind Sport, Tackling the Blues and Barnardo’s all designed to teach are students that it is okay to not be okay and that the best thing to do is speak up! We have given students a range of ways in which they can access support both within school and online.

Lunchtime sessions were held that allowed students to try out a range of therapeutic workshops, everything from baking and stress ball making to painting and board games. Students were encouraged to take the time to relax, try something new and talk about their mental health.

For staff we have been treated to a week of lovely cakes and coffee allowing us to spend time together in the sunshine and build our staff community. The Great Rainford Bake off has been a resounding success with some notable entries from Maths, Computing and Learning Support – the winner is still to be announced! Staff also took part in some fantastic CPD sessions from Woodwork and baking therapy to volleyball and hungry hippos. It was a great opportunity to get together, talk and develop new skills and most of all have some fun!

On Friday lunchtime staff and students were treated to a performance from MD productions – with their secret weapon – staff who had taken part in a dance fit session joined in!! With some encouragement our students jumped in to – it was a fantastic performance and a great time was had by all!!

This week has also been an opportunity to support our local community with staff, students and parents donating an astonishing amount of food for the local food bank making sure that here at Rainford Everyone Matters, including those from our local community who need our help and support.

This event has gone from strength to strength each year and the hard work put in to hold this event has more than paid off with the fun had by all. Not forgetting the importance of raising awareness of mental health issues and how best to get help.