The programme aimed to support the emotional mental health and wellbeing of young people and their families, with activities designed to boost confidence, encourage teamwork and develop new skills which they could use in a variety of social situations.
Events included community fun days, activity sessions with organisations such as West Midlands Fire Service, sporting activities to improve physical wellbeing as well as arts and crafts sessions to encourage young people to explore their creativity.
They were organised by HeadStart Wolverhampton alongside Gazebo Theatre, the WV10 Consortium and YMCA Black Country, offering a broad range of events covering the four HeadStart Areas - Low Hill, The Scotlands and Bushbury South; Springfield, Heath Town, Old Heath and Eastfield; All Saints, Blakenhall, Parkfields and Ettingshall, as well as Bilston East.
Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “To see so many young people take part in these activities goes to show the positive impact that the HeadStart Wolverhampton programme has across the city.
“Young people are our greatest asset and it is vital that we offer continued support to them with events like these. Giving them the skills they need to support their own emotional health and wellbeing will help and ensure a bright and prosperous future for Wolverhampton for many years to come.”
HeadStart Wolverhampton, part of a £56m National Lottery funded programme set up by the National Lottery Community Fund, is designed to improve the emotional mental health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 10 to 16 by giving them the skills they need to cope with the challenges of modern life.
As well as running a series of specific programmes in its 4 key target areas, HeadStart Wolverhampton also offers city wide help through the HeadStart Wolverhampton Support and Guidance Directory which provides emotional mental health and wellbeing resources from different organisations, including information targeted at young people, parents and carers, and professionals.
To find out more please visit HeadStart, follow @headstartfm on Twitter or Instagram, or HeadStart on Facebook.
