Complete approach to well-being for pupils at Telford Priory School
Telford & Wrekin Council’s Safer & Stronger communities project is helping young people become physically, mentally, and socially healthier through a new 12-week coaching programme.
The project has arranged for multi award-winning public and TEDX speaker, youth coach and founder of ‘Magical Mind Coaching’ Jin Atwal to run the programme, now in its sixth week at Telford Priory School.
Energy-filled boxercise classes are complemented by a mindset lesson each week, from how to look and feel more confident to building good habits and public speaking and combine exercise and mindfulness as a way of building confidence and healthy mindsets in young people.
Classes have been arranged in response to the school’s requests for support with pupils going through difficult times and to find a way to support them with physical, mental and social health and a loss of confidence. The Safer & Stronger Communities project received funding from Sports England and allocated funds to cover the costs.
Cabinet member for healthy, safer & stronger communities, Councillor Kelly Middleton said: “Safer & Stronger Communities is a project that works with people of all ages and part of our role is to bring people and organisations together that are best equipped to provide the right kind of support for each other in different ways.
“Young people are exposed to lots of different pressures - access to global issues affecting the world around them, vivid news reports as well as online experiences constantly bombarding them can feel overwhelming bringing about fears and anxiety. This can be on top of difficult experiences they may also be having at home or with their peers.
Mr Atwal said: “Working with Telford & Wrekin Council to deliver these classes has helped me turn a difficult childhood of my own into something positive. Through working on my own physical, mental and social health was how I became my best version.
“This led me to develop this programme as I truly believe when a young person develops all areas of health, they are empowered to grasp hold of and maximise the many opportunities that come into their lives.
“We are halfway through the programme and already seeing an increase in physical fitness levels, a more positive outlook on life as well as more self-belief, confidence, and improved communication skills. I look forward to rolling out the programme in more schools in Telford and supporting even more children to become their best version.”
The classes are also being held at St George’s Primary School. For more information about the Safer & Stronger Communities project, please email saferstronger@telford.gov.uk
