We’re very excited to announce the launch of our new initiative, The Hummingbird Project – an eight-week course to improve young people’s emotional wellbeing in schools across the North West. We’ll be delivering the programme in partnership with the University of Bolton from next year onwards.
We’re holding a launch event on Thursday 9th November from 5.45pm-8pm at the Virgin Money Lounge, King Street, Manchester M2 4WU. The event will start with an introduction from Metro Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, followed by presentations from Ghazala Baig, (CEO, MedEquip4Kids) and Professor Jerome Carson (University of Bolton).
Everyone is welcome to attend the launch – please could you confirm your attendance by the end of Wednesday 8th by emailing us on info@medequip4kids.org.uk or by calling us on 0161 798 1600.
An urgent need for better mental health support 
In 2014 MedEquip4Kids started working with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Due to funding cuts, CAMHS were struggling to afford resources such as books, toys, games and communication aids. In the last three years, we’ve raised over £110,000 to deliver new equipment to 157 CAMHS teams across the UK.
Through our work with CAMHS and from reports in the media, it is very clear that record levels of young people are struggling with their mental health. Academic pressure, social media, bullying, poverty, and the lack of availability of professional support have all been named as contributing to the epidemic of poor mental health. Key figures in a young person’s life, such as parents or teachers, can often spot when a young person is struggling, but may not know how best to help.
As a children’s health charity, we wanted to take a more active role in helping to tackle the growing mental health crisis. The research we initially commissioned highlighted that schools are facing a serious shortage of resources and training to support the mental health needs of their pupils.
About The Hummingbird Project
Our new initiative will consist of a bespoke, evidence-based 8-week Emotional Wellbeing training course that will give young people the techniques and tools to become more emotionally resilient whilst also introducing them to the key concepts of Positive Psychology.
The workshops will be co-designed by MedEquip4Kids, psychologists at the University of Bolton and young people from across the North West who will provide their views on where they feel support is most needed. The sessions will be delivered by MedEquip4Kids’ Project Co-ordinator and volunteers who have lived experience of mental health issues.
The project hopes to make a real, measurable difference to young people’s emotional wellbeing, help young people and school staff to become more aware of the early warning signs, alleviate pressure on services, and reduce the stigma associated with mental illnesses.
