October features Mental Health Awareness Day, in schools, we are only too aware of how important mental health is for the wellbeing of staff and students in order to thrive. 

The World Health Organisation talk about the origins and purpose of this day:

“The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health.

The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.”

We were delighted to hear that one of the franchisees we work closely with has taken a strong position on supporting staff and students with their mental health and wellbeing, paving the way for more organisations to follow suit.

Little Voices Achieves 100% MHFA Training For Its Franchise Network!

Little Voices, the popular national performing arts school, has achieved 100% MHFA England (Mental Health First Aid) training for its network of 31 franchisees – the only such training approved by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Mental Health First Aid: Why It Matters

A Civil Service blog written by Alexandra Galloway, Former Deputy Director Civil Service Reform Team at the Cabinet Office Mental Health First Aid: why it matters

‘Our role as a Mental Health First Aider is to be available for, and look out for those with mental health issues.

We are trained to listen and reassure in a non-judgemental way to your concerns. Many of us have lived experience of mental health, either our own or of loved ones, and will do our best to empathise with your situation. We will also signpost professional support if it’s needed – a bit like a physical first aid kit – and will always treat your conversion as confidential.’

Wellbeing Is Central To Our DNA

Little Voices was Co-founded in 2007 by Jane James, a classically-trained opera singer from Blackburn in Lancashire, multi-award-winning Little Voices grows confidence, builds vital life skills, and nurtures talent through LAMDA-based drama & singing classes for children & young people aged 4 – 18. 

“Wellbeing is central to our DNA at Little Voices,” Jane says.“We’ve been talking about the benefits of our lessons on children’s mental wellbeing long before it became headline news. So extending the nurturing of positive mindset and good mental health to the workplace through the introduction of a number of wellbeing initiatives cements and builds on that.”

As well as a wellbeing policy, Little Voices has appointed one of their franchisees to the role of Wellbeing Ambassador, implemented a weekly Wellbeing Wednesday thread in their private franchisee forum, and also runs regular wellbeing huddles.

Lived Experience

“I’ve lived through my own catastrophic mental breakdown that came like a bolt out of the blue at the start of the pandemic,” Jane explains, “and the impact on both me and those around me was devastating. So when I eventually returned to work I had just one mission: to raise awareness for those I loved, and that included my franchise family. And as everyone knows, you need to put your own oxygen mask on before you can help someone else.”

Little Voices started rolling out accredited mental health awareness training in May 2022, and 100% of their franchisees are now MHFA-trained.

“This means that not only is every franchisee more aware of how they’re doing with their own mental health,” Jane concludes, “but they’re also more aware of how their family, friends, and colleagues are doing. Our tutors are in safe hands, and our pupils are, too.”

It’s wonderful to hear that organisations we work with are taking mental health seriously and embedding wellbeing into their practice.

You can find more information about Little Voices on their website: https://littlevoices.org.uk/.