Meitheal leaders to receive certs

MEITHEAL leaders from all over County Wexford will be presented with their certificate of achievement at a ceremony at County Hall, Carricklawn, Wexford, next week.

Meitheal is a mentoring and anti-bullying programme which has been in County Wexford post-primary schools for 19 years. The county’s Meitheal leaders in 2018 will be honoured at the ceremony on Wednesday, January 16.

Leaders are a friendly face for 1st Years and provide invaluable support during the difficult transition phase from primary to secondary school. However it does not end there; leaders meet with their 1st Years on a regular basis throughout the academic year and are a trusted source of practical help and advice during that difficult first year in secondary school.

To prepare for their role leaders attend a two day residential training programme during their summer break where they attend workshops covering; communication skills and active listening, conflict resolution, cultural awareness training, positive mental health and stress management, disclosure (role of the Meitheal leader), team-building activities.

Every school has an in-school coordinator; a teacher who oversees the day-to-day running of the programme and offers advice and support to the Meitheal team.

Meitheal Coordinator Tina Kelly helps with the implementation of the programme in County Wexford.

Although taking a pro-active stance regarding bullying the Meitheal leaders face numerous challenges throughout the year. Often students will confide in their leader with quite serious issues, the leaders have received training on what to do if such disclosures are made and in the past have acted promptly and with a maturity beyond their years.

The Meitheal Programme is operated by Wexford Local Development as part of their education programme.