Emily Gets a Headstart with Bolton Wanderers in the Community
“My biggest fear about moving to high school was bullies and people making fun of me. I felt nervous and scared, however Ollie from Bolton Wanderers in the Community really helped me overcome my fear,”
Emily, Headstart participant with Bolton Wanderers in the Community.
Bolton Wanderers are one of ten Football Clubs in the North West who are part of the Headstart programme which is at the forefront of tackling the mental health crisis among our children. In 2020, one in six (16.0%) of children aged 5 to 16 years were identified as having a probable mental health disorder.
The transition from primary school to secondary school is a big time in a child’s life and is one that can trigger poor mental health. It is this crucial transition period which Headstart focuses on and looks to make better.
This was certainly the case with Emily who was very nervous about starting high school to the point that her fear of being bullied was causing considerable anxiety.
Emily and the Headstart team worked together to find ways of reducing her feelings of anxiety. Now settled in at her secondary school, Emily has not only overcome her own fears, but uses the skills and techniques learnt through Headstart to support other students who have been struggling with the transition to high school.
Emily said: “I really enjoyed being part of Headstart, it is very fun and my favourite things were the games and art. It has helped me a lot and I really appreciate how much they have helped me. Since I first started working on the Headstart project, I have learnt how to deal with my mental health and how to help it. I have also learnt a lot of new skills like what to do when I’m feeling down. I’ve found the support and guidance very helpful, and it has helped me so much, I wish it could go on longer.”
Bolton Wanderers in the Community’s Mental Health Transformation Officer, Ollie stated, “Working with young people across Bolton to help their transition from Year 6 to High School is extremely rewarding, especially when we see the transformations of pupils like Emily. Providing coping strategies and tools to not only help individuals but also allow them to support their peers shows the importance of these early intervention services. It was great to see Emily gain the confidence to go through this transition and we wish her the best going forward.”
To reward her amazing progress, Wanderers made Emily a community mascot at a recent Bolton cup match against Manchester United U21s. Facing her anxiety head-on, Emily walked onto the pitch with her favourite players in front of the crowd.
Emily’s mother reflected on the support her daughter has received: “I would like to say a huge thank you for all this for Emily. She has needed the guidance, and it makes me relieved to know that she has this support from Bolton Wanderers.”
