Thrive at College
Thrive at College is an initiative aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for students in the West Midlands. With increasing mental health challenges among young people, this programme supports Further Education colleges in creating positive environments for students and staff.
The independently led West Midlands Mental Health Commission identified the increasing challenges that young people face with their mental health and wellbeing in our region. This follows national trends, with the mental health of children and young people declining in recent years. In 2023 one in five children and young people aged 8 to 25 years had a reported mental health problem, compared to one in nine in 2017 (NHS Digital, 2023). This significant increase highlights a need for additional support. Experiencing mental health challenges at this age, impacts a young person’s ability to learn, seek employment and ultimately their life opportunities.
Thrive at College is a West Midlands Combined Authority funded pilot in response to this need and a direct recommendation of the West Midlands Mental Health Commission. The initiative is supporting FE colleges in the region to embed a ‘whole college’ approach to mental health and create environments that shape positive mental health and wellbeing for their students and staff.
Six FE Colleges in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area are taking part in the pilot; Coventry College, Halesowen College, South and City Birmingham, City of Wolverhampton College, Walsall College and Sandwell College. They are working to six key principles, guided by expert delivery partner the Centre for Mental Health.
The key principles are:
- Signing up and working towards the Association of Colleges Mental Health Charter
- Developing a regular bespoke programme of training and resources
- Providing a programme of peer support
- Supporting staff wellbeing through the Thrive at Work programme
- Curriculum and skills programme with wrap around mental health support for core group of students most at risk of mental health challenges
- Ensuring colleges are linked into appropriate local mental health support teams
The pilot program will provide direct support to 200 students on specific courses, aiming to create an environment that promotes mental wellbeing for thousands more.
Progress to date:
Building on these principles, the pilot has made significant progress with the colleges. The programme is designed to respond to the needs of the individual colleges. To date each college has undertaken an audit to identify key areas where the Centre for Mental Health can provide support and build upon existing work.
Many of the colleges have developed and launched a skills and curriculum programme, designed for groups of students identified as benefitting from this more intensive support. This has varied from hair dressing courses with wrap around mental health support to access courses with physical activity elements, all designed to improve wellbeing and ultimately engagement with the learning on the courses. One College is already noticing an impact on student attendance, retention and engagement with the course.
The Mental Health Foundation has delivered their peer support facilitation programme UOK? in a number of the colleges, establishing a cohort of students eager to co-design resources and materials to take forward the Thrive at College pilot in their institution.
The six colleges are part of a community of practice, which comes together regularly to share their experiences of the pilot, share best practice and solve any knotty problems they might be experiencing.
College logo's of the colleges taking part in Thrive at College
organisational logos of the Partners supporting the Thrive at College pilot