It’s happy days as school lands award
ASCHOOL has been recognised with an award for its work tackling well-being and good mental health of its pupils, staff and the wider community.
The Hollins, in Accrington, won the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award for its ‘ART of Happiness Day’, at the Educate Awards.
The arts project and community exhibition involved more than 700 participants and had a lasting impact.
Throughout the school day each year group worked alongside designated artists exploring issues around mental health and well-being.
Each year group (including staff and community members) worked on a different art form and theme which came to together at the end of the school day to create a large scale public exhibition that was displayed within the school lawn.
The live ceremony connected with judges and sponsors, via Zoom, who revealed the winning schools.
Headteacher Steve Campbell said it was an “absolute honour” to receive the award on behalf of the school.
He told the awards presenter: “Every single pupil in school took part in an arts project with their year group, and every member of the teaching staff and support staff, plus numerous volunteers, came into school and worked with the children on that day.
“We ended up with these huge art installations on the day, which was quite phenomenal.
“It really was a wellbeing day.”
Mr Campbell said Hollins has mental health first aiders and ambassadors within the students, and the school has also worked with a number of other voluntary organisations.
He added: “It’s an absolute credit to everybody at the school. Our extended services lead Waqar (Ahmed) leads on the majority of these activities and we’ve expanded it more and more over the last few years.”
Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, said:
“A huge congratulations to The Hollins for winning this highly coveted award!
“It has been really tough for those working in schools and we are so pleased that we have managed to find a way to shine a spotlight on the hard work and dedication that goes on inside and outside of school.
We hope this has given a much-needed lift to those in education, given the incredibly challenging times we are going through at the moment.”