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Emily Gets a Headstart with Bolton Wanderers in the Community

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“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.”

Headstart programme helping young lives make a positive school transition

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Two Greater Manchester EFL Club Community Organisations joined forces to reward children who have taken part in a school mental health programme.

Wigan Athletic Community Trust and Bolton Wanderers in the Community – charitable arms of their EFL Football Clubs – invited dozens of children who have benefitted from the EFL Trust’s Headstart programme to a celebration event at the Brick Community Stadium.

The Headstart programme, supported by Mental Health Transformation Officers at several Club Community Organisations in the North West of England, has helped more than a thousand pupils making the transition from primary to secondary schools with their mental health.

Some of the young participants from Bolton and Wigan took part in a series of workshops and sporting activities to celebrate their involvement.

Trafford Grimes, Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Mental Health Transformation Officer, said: “It’s important that we run events like this for our students that are working hard within our projects. 

“Physical and mental health are closely-related, and good mental health can positively affect physical health, so it’s been great to do this event with the support of Bolton Wanderers in the Community to celebrate the programme.” 

Year 7 pupil Lara, who started working with Trafford due to having challenges with anxiety, said the sessions have ‘raised her confidence’. 

“The sessions are good because we can just be ourselves, we have someone who can listen to us and the group sessions are fun because we can all be together in one safe space,” said Lara. 

“My anxiety is 100% better than it was.” 

Both EFL Club Community Organisations (CCOs) came on board with the Headstart programme thanks to funding and support from NHS Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Moving and local authorities; Wigan Council and Bolton Council.

Several other CCOs in Lancashire run the programme – thanks to support from the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity – all of whom aim to reduce strain on the NHS by targeting those children currently accessing or are at risk of needing to access children’s mental health services.

Debbie Cook, EFL’s Director of Community said: “EFL Club Community Organisations are well engaged within schools across their communities, and we’ve seen some wonderful and impactful examples of young people benefitting with their mental health when preparing for secondary school via the Headstart programme.” 

Oliver Pratt, Bolton Wanderers in the Community’s Mental Health Transformation Officer, added: “We support the pupils through Years 6 and 7, and we hope that with the classroom sessions and one-to-one support we provide, they have the skills when going to secondary school that can enable them to further thrive.”

Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 – Q&A with Headstart Mental Health Transformation Officer

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Earlier this week, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, we announced the expansion of our Headstart programme across the North West of England.

Headstart, which has supported almost a thousand pupils since it began with the milestone transition from primary to secondary school will be delivered by a further seven EFL Club Community Organisations (CCOs)

The 11 CCOs will work in schools, providing one to one or group support, in either a classroom environment or delivering sessions, like yoga and mindfulness, through dedicated Mental Health Transformation Officers.

Meet Rachel Walker, one of the first Mental Health Transformation Officers in post, making a big difference already in her area. We caught up with the Fleetwood Town Community Trust team member…

How did you hear about this new role?

I saw this role advertised online whilst I was completing my Masters degree in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing. As I was already working with this age group at a local youth club, I felt it was the perfect role for me to apply for to support with their transition to secondary school.

  What type of sessions do you deliver in schools?

There are a variety of sessions included to ensure the children are learning different methods to support their wellbeing. So far, I have delivered sessions such as mindfulness, creativity, physical activity (yoga) and player visits. I also then deliver one-to-one sessions with specific children which aims to offer a safe space with interventions involving anxiety, anger and coping strategies.

 Why are they important for young people?

These sessions are important for young people because it allows them to see that mental health is normal. The majority of the children are Fleetwood Town FC fans so for me to be wearing the Club’s badge, discussing mental health and ways to enhance wellbeing is really important for them.

How are the young people and schools responding to your sessions?

The young people and the schools are responding really well to the sessions. The children are always excited to have me back as we learn about different mental health topics and coping strategies. The schools have received some great feedback about the benefit of these sessions, especially in how I will follow these Year 6 children to Year 7. In turn, this offers a familiar face from their primary school, who they know can continue this support whilst they settle in and transition to secondary school. The young people and the schools are reporting back that the children are acknowledging ways to cope with their feelings and often say ‘we have done this with Rachel’.

Headstart makes expansive headway in North West

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Thousands of Year 6 pupils across the North West of England, making the transition into secondary school, will benefit from a mental health programme involving several EFL Club Community Organisations (CCOs).

Since 2022, the EFL Trust and four CCOs have supported dozens of schools and hundreds of pupils across Lancashire and South Cumbria via a pilot project called Headstart, thanks to funding from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity after successfully applying for an NHS Charities Together Grant.

The EFL charitable arm is delighted to announce, during Mental Health Awareness Week (15th – 21st May), the programme – which has supported almost a thousand pupils since it began – will be delivered by a further seven charities.

The CCOs will work in schools, providing one to one or group support, in either a classroom environment or delivering sessions, like yoga and mindfulness.

Fleetwood Town Community Trust, Preston North End Community and Education Trust, Morecambe FC Community Sports and Accrington Stanley Community Trust each have a Mental Health Transformation Officer, all of whom aim to reduce strain on the NHS by targeting those children currently accessing or are at risk of needing to access children’s mental health services.

Blackpool FC Community Trust, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust and Burnley FC In The Community have joined the Lancashire cohort of CCOs delivering the programme.

In addition, Bolton Wanderers In The Community, Foundation 92, Rochdale AFC Community Trust and Wigan Athletic Community Trust have come on board thanks to funding and support from Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership, GreaterSport and local authorities; Trafford Council, Wigan Council and Bolton Council.

In 2020, one in six (16.0%) children aged 5 to 16 years were identified as having a probable mental disorder, increasing from one in nine (10.8%) in 2017.

Adrian Bradley, Head of Health & Wellbeing at the EFL Trust said:

“Our Club Community Organisations are well connected within schools across their communities, and we’ve seen some wonderful and impactful examples during our pilot year of delivering the programme.

“We’re delighted that we’ve received further funding for more Club Community Organisations to deliver this programme across Lancashire and Greater Manchester, and reach and support as many children as possible, making that milestone transition in their lives from primary to secondary school.”

Caption: ITV Football visited Larkholme Primary School in Fleetwood to witness EFL Trust Headstart Programme delivered Fleetwood Town Community Trust.