Wellbeing

Our Wellbeing and Safeguarding Support Team helps students who may need emotional support, or help with mental health issues.

Our Wellbeing and Safeguarding Support Team includes:

Mr A Jenkinson – Mental Health Lead
Mr R Robinson – Safeguarding Manager

Form tutors and key stage teams are also well-placed to discuss any issues. Many things can cause a change in mental health, including traumatic events (eg loss or separation, life changes, abuse, domestic violence or bullying).

Maintaining every day, regular routines wherever possible, such as attending school and lessons whilst working towards managing mental health, is key. We offer a range of services to help students develop positive mental health and wellbeing and support those experiencing mental health issues.

Who do I contact if I have an issue?

Students' first point of contact is their pastoral manager:

Key stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9): KS3Office@hopevalley.chorustrust.org
Key stage 4 (Years 10 and 11): KS4Office@hopevalley.chorustrust.org

If students need support at any point they should contact their pastoral manager who will talk to someone in school to provide support. No student needs to feel alone.

Queries related to school work should be directed to the subject teacher.

Menstrual products

Menstrual products are available free of charge to all students as and when required:

Reusable period pants/pads.
Disposable organic/normal pads (all sizes).
Tampons (all sizes).

If students require a menstrual product, they should contact their pastoral manager, who will supply them.

How do I look after my wellbeing?

What if I am worried about my health?

Look on the NHS website – there is lots of helpful advice about coronavirus as well as other medical conditions.
Go online at www.111.nhs.uk and complete an online screening form.
Call your GP – your normal family doctor.
Call 999 if it is an emergency.

What if I am worried about my safety

Please see who you can talk to on our safeguarding page.

What if I am worried about someone else?

If they attend Hope Valley College, encourage them to phone or email our Pastoral Team.
If you have worries about your or someone else's safety outside normal school time or outside normal school term, speak to a trusted adult. If this is not possible you can call Childline on 0800 1111.
If you or someone you are with is in immediate danger call 999.

Wellbeing support organisations

Wellbeing organisation logos, details are listed below

Bereavement

Childhood Bereavement Network

Resources for schools, the young person and for parents/carers.

Child Bereavement UK

A website for child bereavement that has resources for schools, young people and parents/carers

Hope Again

A website for young people to use. Set up by Cruse, the national charity for bereavement care.

Winston's Wish

A charity for bereaved children. A specialist provider of support for children bereaved through homicide and suicide.

Freephone: 08088 020 021

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse - Derbyshire County Council

Help for those suffering from or who know someone who is suffering from domestic abuse in Derbyshire. If you're experiencing domestic abuse or know someone who is, telephone to get help from someone local:

Freephone:08000 198 668

or email: derbyshiredahelpline@theelmfoundation.org.uk

The Hideout

A website created specifically for children and young people who experience domestic abuse.

Women's Aid

Information about how domestic abuse affects children.

Advice and support for the friends and family of victims and perpetrators of abuse within LGBT+ relationships.

Victim Support

Confidential and free support and advice about domestic abuse.

Drugs and substance abuse

Change Grow Live

Advice if you are worried about a friend or family member in relation to drugs.

Talk to Frank

National website with honest information about drugs.

Tel: 0300 123 6600

Eating disorders

Eating disorders: Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Specific help with eating disorders for children who live in Derbyshire.

Beat

A national eating disorder charity with a helpline and youthline.

Exam stress

Gambling

Big Deal

Information about getting help with gambling and how to talk to a young person about gambling.

Tel: 0808 8020 133

LGBT+

Mermaids

A helpline and useful information for trans young people and their families.

Tel: 0808 801 0400
(Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm).

Stonewall Youth

A national organisation to support all young, lesbian, gay, bi and trans people - as well as those who are questioning.

Mental health support

Derbyshire NHS Mental Health Helpline

A mental health support line for those with mental health issues, anxiety or distress in Derbyshire.

Smiling Mind

This is a downloadable app from the app store, its completely free and doesn't have any adverts on it. It has been developed by psychologist and educators and has programmes to help kids aged 3-18. It has programmes to help with sleep, in the classroom, sports, work, home and it even has programmes for adults too.

The 'Apple' technique

For managing anxiety and worries.

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

A website and a helpline for men aged 15-35 who are feeling depressed or down.

Childline

Young person friendly website with information, support and self-help advice for a range of mental health/emotional health and wellbeing issues.

Children can access the website themselves. It’s a young person friendly site and there are lots of different activities to access. They can have her own private ‘locker’ to log their feelings and play games and read helpful advice and information about how they feel, and how others have dealt with situations and feelings. There is also one to one access to a counsellor if they need it.

Freephone: 0800 1111

Clear Fear app

A free app to help overcome anxiety.

Depression: self-help

Information on depression and a self-help fact sheet.

Golddigger Trust

An award-winning charity, at the forefront of self-esteem work in Sheffield and across the UK, working to equip young people with the confidence and skills to make positive choices for themselves. Includes drop-in sessions.

Have I Got A Problem

A free online resource to help you understand issues or concerns you may have about mental health or addiction issues.

Kooth

Free online counselling support for 11-18 year olds.

Royal College of Psychiatrists

Information about why obsessions become compulsions.

Papyrus

Charity for the prevention of young suicide, with helpline

Tel: 0800 068 4141

Rethink

A fact sheet giving information, support and self-help advice for a range of mental health/emotional health and wellbeing issues.

Royal College of Psychiatrists (worries and anxieties)

Information about the different types of anxiety and worries young people may have and how it can be treated.

Royal College of Psychiatrists (depression)

Information about how to recognise depression in young people and how you can help yourself/what others can do to help

Samaritans

Support for anyone, 24 hours a day, 365 days a week. Online resources and freephone support.

Freephone: 116 123

Sane

A website giving information, support and self-help advice for a range of mental health/emotional health and wellbeing issues.

Young Minds

A website giving information, support and self-help advice for a range of mental health/emotional health and wellbeing issues.

Great resources for parents and carers on how to support and start conversations with children about mental health and wellbeing.

Are you a young person in crisis?

You can text the YoungMinds Crisis Messenger. This is free 24/7 support if you are experiencing a mental health crisis. Text YM to 85258.

All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors.

Mindfulness activities

What is ‘mindfulness’?

Mindfulness is the ability to know what’s happening in your head at any given moment without getting carried away by it. Mindfulness activities help us to:

pay attention to the feelings we have
process those feelings
respond to the feelings in a controlled way.

Mindfulness has many benefits including reducing stress, helping us to pay attention, feel happier, learn more and be more patient. By don’t just take or word for it, listen to what other young adults have to say about mindfulness on this video on YouTube.

Inspired? Try some of the activities from the mindfulness menu below:

3-minute music: mindfully listening to a music track is a quick and effective stress reliever and a great way to practice being completely in the moment. Choose a song to listen to – instead of just paying attention to the words, ask yourself:
- What instruments do you hear? Is the song loud or soft, fast or slow?
- What emotions does the song create in you?
- Where in your body do you feel them? Can you feel the beat of the music in your body?
Build something: according to an article from the UK, Lego has become a hugely popular mindfulness activity amongst young adults. Building with blocks or models allows your brain to 'switch off' and is very therapeutic, so get building!
Tech detox: too much time on devices can contribute to our stress; emails, news, notifications and social media can aggravate our worries and can distract us from our self-care. Taking a 30 minute break from ALL devices, including iPod/phones/TV will give you time to reconnect with yourself.
Notice the good: Try and notice 3 things that are good, or even OK right now – it could be a kind action from someone, the sun shining, hearing from a friend. You could write them down in a journal, put them in a ‘good things’ jar, talk with others about them or just think about them privately.
The Power of a Poem: reading poetry can be a helpful way to explore our emotions and experiences. Two poems which encourage mindfulness are:
- “The Guest House” by Rumi Read the poem and think about what it would be like to welcome each emotion. Have you ever had emotions that felt like unwelcome visitors? Have you ever had difficult experiences that you ultimately learned something from? What things do you do to avoid feeling your emotions? What happens when you avoid them? Can you try to welcome even your unpleasant emotions?
- “Autobiography in Five Chapters” by Portia Nelson: What holes do you often fall into? Why is it so easy to make the same mistakes over and over? What new streets do you think you could walk down? What changes could you make that will help you better take care of yourself?
Spidey-senses: a quick and easy mindfulness exercise you can do anywhere, any time. Take a few minutes to stop and engage your “Spidey Senses,” the skill Spiderman uses to keep tabs on world around him. Focus on each of your senses in turn: what you can see, smell, hear, taste and touch? Tuning into what we observe is a great skill, also for non super-humans!
App it!: sometimes tech can help us with our mindfulness! Try 'Stop Breathe Think', a free app to help you to learn mindfulness and meditation practices. This app opens with a short "interview" where you will select several words to describe how you are feeling, and then the app recommends guided meditations for your current state.
Colour, Craft, Create, Cook: any creative activity is a mindful activity! Steal your little siblings’ crayons, get out your sketch book, bake, knit or even head outside and make some ‘mandala’ art with natural materials. Take time to do the crafty things you never get to do now you’re all grown up...
The Worry Washing Machine: can’t stop yourself from worrying? Do your worries go round and round in your head like an overactive spin cycle? Follow the steps in this funny but helpful guide to getting yourself out of that worry washing machine.
Yoda: it’s yoga, not yoda! Even so, yoga can give the same ‘Zen vibe’ as our calm-as-a-cucumber Star Wars pal. There are many forms of yoga and not all of involve bending yourself into strange poses. It is, however, great for relieving your body of tension, stretching out your muscles and resting your mind. Got a spare 20 minutes? Give it a go y visiting yogawithadriene.com.
Mindfulness of the Breath: awareness of the breath is one of the foundational exercises for learning mindfulness meditation. It’s a popular starting point because the breath is something you can always access. It serves as a valuable anchor for other mindfulness practices.
Mindfulness of Walking: walking mindfully cultivates awareness of your body while it is in motion. Mindful walking can help to increase your energy level if you are tired or restless, and it can also add variety if you are doing longer periods of seated practice. It’s also useful because directing attention to walking, and even standing, is something you can do throughout the day.
Headspace: an app to support with meditation.
Mindshift: an app to help manage anxiety.

Online safety

BBC Own It app

The Own It app gives you advice when you need, in real-time as you type! Helping you to make smart choices, feel more confident, and live your best life online.

Using a combination of self-reporting and ‘machine learning’, the app builds up a picture of your child’s digital wellbeing and serves relevant content, information and interventions designed to help your child understand the impact that their online behaviours can have on themselves, and on others.
In addition, the app presents a range of content and features designed to help your child get the most of their time online, and help them to develop healthy online habits and behaviours, and encourages your child to have conversations with you when they are feeling sad or worried.

ThinkUKnow

#OnlineSafetyatHome is a campaign from ThinkUKnow to inform families of the dangers of online gaming and how to do it safely. There are short videos and activity packs for 11-13 year olds and 14+ year olds.

CEOP – Child exploitation and online protection command

Report your concerns about how someone has been communicating with you online.

Children's Commissioner

Advice of 'Digital 5 a day' - easy to follow, practical steps for children and parents to achieve a healthy and balanced digital diet.

Net Aware

Your guide to social networks, apps and games - put together by O2 and NSPCC.

NSPCC Online Safety

A website with lots of information about different types of online activity.

Helpline: 0808 800 5002

UK Safer Internet Centre (11-19 year olds)

Lots of resources for 11-19 year olds about staying safe online.

UK Safer Internet Centre (parents and carers)