Molly Rose Foundation flew the flag for Children’s Mental Health Week this month by visiting six schools in six days.
Following this year’s theme Know Yourself, Grow Yourself, the charity spent the week rolling out its My Bag of Happiness programme, specially designed to encourage primary school children to express their emotions.
The training team visited Oxhey Wood Primary School and Bromet Primary School, both in Watford, Stanburn Primary School and Paiwand Saturday School in Edgware, Charterhouse School in Guildford and Testbourne Community School in Hampshire.
Led by trainer Lisa Pascoulis, My Bag of Happiness sessions help to improve children’s mental health and well-being by providing a starting point for conversations and activities for pupils to reflect on happy memories and gain strength from them.
They also contain Molly Rose Foundation Where to Find Help Cards which signpost to services supporting young people’s mental health.
Lisa said: “The reception I’ve had on arrival and until the end of day at every school has been so warming. The lessons of Molly’s story have been so well-received and many pupils made a point of thanking me as they were leaving the sessions.”
Daniela Pace, Mental Health Lead from Oxhey Wood Primary School told us: “’I just wanted to say a massive thank you! The children really enjoyed the sessions and feedback from staff was also very positive.”
Masumah Mujaddedi from Paiwand Saturday School said: “We at Paiwand Saturday School were delighted to invite Lisa from Molly Rose Foundation to provide our students with the wonderful opportunity to take part in a mental well-being workshop on the 8th of February.
“The session was insightful and engaging, focusing on managing emotions and maintaining a positive mindset. Lisa created a welcoming and supportive environment, encouraging open discussions and meaningful participation. The interactive activity, Bag of Happiness, made the learning experience both enjoyable and impactful. Overall, it was a valuable and empowering experience for our students.”
Almost 3,000 of the colourful bags were distributed during this time among the schools we visited and a further six schools which also participated. And supporters donated a whopping £1,156 directly to the initiative, which is hoped to roll out even further afield this year. Two of the schools who took part also held uniform-free days to raise funds, which have yet to be announced. If you’d like to make a donation to support this initiative, please click here.
Teachers and parents were also encouraged to print out Molly Rose Foundation-designed Know Yourself & Grow Yourself diaries for the event and beyond. These booklets, suitable for reception, Year 1, Year 2 and Key Stage 2 pupils, encourage children to record things which they are grateful for, acts of kindness they have completed, what they have learned and exercises in recognising emotions and expressing themselves.
Molly Rose Foundation CEO Andy Burrows said: “I am delighted with our participation in Children’s Mental Health Week and proud to see how far and wide our My Bag of Happiness initiative has travelled.
“Feedback tells us this is an empowering activity for the children who take part and equips them with vital tools with which to express themselves.
“We look forward to taking part in next year’s activities and remind all children and young people that they help and support is available if they need it.”
Several older volunteers from Harrow College also joined in by crafting banners and bunting for the charity’s Coffee for Molly event in Brighton, which will take place during the Brighton Marathon and smaller 10k race on April 6th
As well as proudly cheering on runners who will be raising funds for Molly rose Foundation’s vital work, local coffee shops will be taking part in Coffee for Molly; which sees the placement of resources in cafes along the running routes to encourage customers to talk about mental health.
It is free for coffee shops to sign up and they will be stocked with Where to Find Help cards, conversation starter menus and coffee cup sleeves all making the public aware of Molly Rose Foundation and the importance of taking time to talk.
