Blackpool FC Community Trust column: The ways in which we're helping the area's youngsters

I was told by one of my colleagues a few years ago that all our work is mental health, and while that was absolutely correct, we have some provisions that focus on this subject a little more than others.

As part of our continued support to primary schools, we deliver a programme called ‘Unstoppable’ to every year six pupil.

This project has been very kindly supported by Blackpool owner Simon Sadler for the past two years and focuses on supporting the pupils by utilising Dan Freedman’s book, ‘Unstoppable’, to look at impactful topics affecting our young people’s lives.

They include the transition from primary school to secondary school, relationships with family members, right and wrong behaviours, and when is the right time to keep a secret: all topics a number of our children face every day, which heavily affect their lives and mental wellbeing.

Last week, we launched our High School Hubs model which, with funding from the Local Opportunity Area Board, has allowed us to base a member of our staff in every secondary school, for two days every week, with a focus on supporting pupils with their mental health, resilience and attitudes to school.

The programme staff work with pupils identified in school, with one-to-one mentoring, small group sessions and also with in-class support.

It’s very much focused on making sure we find the correct support for each individual that is referred to us.

From a community standpoint we have continued to deliver our ‘Tower Above’ programme, which has seen some tremendous results in the past nine months.

The project works with young people on a one-to-one basis, who are referred into the service due to being at risk of engaging in crime and anti-social behaviour.

The hope here is that our involvement will push each young person on an alternative path and into positive activities.

Despite the lockdown, some of the young people engaged have continued to attend sessions – as guidance allows – and have found their engagement with the Trust has been their main outlet for exerting positive energy and changed behaviour at home and in school.

We have also developed a fantastic timetable of activity for some of the most vulnerable young people in the town, via our ‘PL Kicks’ programme, which allows them to come together in small groups to take part in physical activity and socialise with their peers.

While there are a great deal of other programmes we deliver throughout the year that help children’s mental health, the pandemic and numerous lockdowns have intensified this even more.

We hope the amount of virtual and face-to-face offers that we have put in place can help a large number of our local children, and once restrictions begin to ease, we will do even more.

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