Safe

Safe - Mental Heath Awareness

Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people - working with schools and communities in Kent and the Royal borough of Greenwich

What is Safe?

Safe is a youth-led programme delivered in schools, which aims to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing among young people.

Throughout the programme, Safe Coordinators break down associated stigma, encourage young people to talk about their feelings, support to recongise warning signs in themselves and others, and signposting young people to seek support if and when needed.

The programme includes:

10 Workshops: delivered to students from Yr 5 to Post-16 covering a range of mental health and wellbeing topics students and staff can choose
Safe Ambassador Training: working with up to 12 students to train them in listening and communication skills, providing an understanding of low-level mental health and wellbeing issues, enabling them to offer basic support and signposting, plus with Coordinators support creating a safe place within schools for students to talk to peers and find information
Whole Day Events: focus day for years groups

Currently, Safe is delivered in secondary schools across Kent and the Royal borough of Greenwich. The programme is flexible and our Coordinators work directly with schools and tailor it to best support the needs of your students.

Impact

“ My 13 year old son opened up and talked to me about his feelings after your assembly…I was a little shocked to hear what is going on for him but I am really pleased he was brave enough to talk to me . I am really pleased this is happening in this school as I might not have known otherwise”

- Parent

“ The professional delivery of sessions gave the students the opportunity to discuss and explore mental health in a more open way than they would have had a teacher been delivering the sessions. This inclusive environment is extremely important for young people as we try to eradicate the stigma of mental health”

- Head of Year 9

“I think mental health awareness is incredibly important in schools , especially schools such as ours where there is a lot of pressure put on the students to achieve academically so I think the Safe delivery needs to continue. Thank you ever so much for your help and for coming in to talk to the students!”

- Head of Year 12

“This lets me say things I wouldn’t normally be able to talk about”

- Year 10 Student

Get Involved

If you’re interested in finding out more please contact us at safe@imago.community

Like us on Facebook - @imago.uk

Need Support or Advice?

YoungMinds - Children and young people’s mental health charity

Mind - Mental health charity providing support and information

Samaritans - Provides emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide - often through their telephone helpline

Beat - Eating Disorder charity

Kooth - Online mental wellbeing community

Safe's History

Safe was established in October 2011 in memory of James Naylor, a young man from Brenchley who tragically took his own life at the age of 23.

Originally working with a small number of schools in Kent from 2012-2015 we expanded our delivery and developed a new model which put peer mentoring at the forefront of Safes activities in schools. Subsequently, Safe successfully worked with 35 schools in Kent, Medway and East Sussex.

Adapting to current and specific needs of all young people our exciting new service delivery involves developing a pilot programme in community settings, primary and Special Educational Needs schools.

01892 530330