Mayor visits Prestwich school for lesson in looking after mental health

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, visited Butterstile Primary School in Prestwich to find out more about how the school is promoting positive mental health through its partnership with children’s mental health charity Place2Be.

During the visit the Mayor met with the Place2Be team, Head Teacher Clare Salmon and other members of school staff for a discussion about the importance of promoting good mental health in primary schools, why support is needed and the charity’s role in building the future children’s mental health workforce.

The Mayor also heard from pupils, a parent and members of school staff about the difference that Place2Be makes in schools, and how the charity’s ‘whole school approach’ to mental health supports the entire community.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said:

“Over the years the pressure young people face has grown – through exams, social media, and family pressure too. We’ve got to respond to that, equipping them with skills they need to be able to build their resilience and help them deal with modern world.

“Early years is when that support needs to start and it’s wonderful to visit a school like Butterstile, which has a clear understanding of that, and is working to provide whole-child support based around individual needs. It was good to hear that the work of the Place2Be team is truly valued by teachers, parents and the pupils themselves.

“At a Greater Manchester level, we’ve recognised the need to increase investment in children’s mental health, and for that to support to start in schools. We’ve heard the call from young people – and from our own Youth Combined Authority – for more of that support to be provided directly within the school environment and this scheme shows how successful that can be.”

Place2Be is the UK’s leading children's mental health charity providing in-school support and expert training to improve the emotional wellbeing of pupils, families, teachers and school staff. Place2Be has been working with Butterstile Primary since 2015 and has been supporting schools in the Greater Manchester area since 2007, currently reaching 18 schools across Manchester, Salford, Oldham and Bury.

The visit comes in the wake of the launch of a new partnership between Place2Be and Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, the Alliance for Learning Teaching School (part of Bright Futures Educational Trust), the Youth Sport Trust and 42nd Street, who are coming together for a 6-month rapid pilot programme which will see mental health and emotional wellbeing support delivered in over 30 primary and secondary schools. Each school will have a lead for mental health who will be trained by Place2Be to understand and respond to the mental health needs within their school community.