The Courtyard’s Mental Health Project for children secures vital funding

The Courtyard is­ thrilled to announce that it has received funding from The Eveson Trust to enable its Education Team to continue to deliver its award-winning Mental Health Project, #TalkAwayDontWalkAway.

The Eveson Trust has awarded £10,000 to fund a practitioner to deliver the project to primary and secondary schools across the county.

“We are thrilled to have received funding from The Eveson Trust as it enables us to work with even more schools and young people, from KS1 through to college age.” says Courtyard Education Officer Rebecca Cook, “This work is invaluable as young people can develop new ways to look after their mental health, starting now and continuing into the future.”

#TalkAwayDontWalkAway was established in 2019, with the support of Herefordshire Mind and Hereford Community Foundation. The project aims to open the discussion around mental health with young people. And, to support them with ways in which they can help themselves and one another.

Over the past 3 years, the project has grown and developed, and the package now includes: a two hour in person workshop, activity booklets and a badge for each participant, access to five digital workshops and an invitation to be a part of the #TalkAwayDontWalkAway Showcase and perform on The Courtyard’s main stage (with transport costs covered).

One of the teachers whose school group took part in the project said:

“I think the arts are important for children in terms of their mental health because it gives them another creative outlet for their feelings and emotions in general. The staff were really engaging and welcoming, the activities that we’ve done have been topical and the children have really engaged with it.”

For more information about #TalkAwayDontWalkAway, The Courtyard’s Mental Health Project, visit courtyard.org.uk/mental-health-project, email takepart@courtyard.org.uk or call 01432 346526.