Across Lancashire alone, there are over 150,000 adults diagnosed with depression, and one in six children across the UK aged between five and 16 are likely to experience a mental health condition.
That’s why Fleetwood Town Community Trust continues to support its local community through a range of different activities and programmes with the aim of impacting the lives of those in the local community.
From NCS to Youth Divert to TrySport to the Kicks programme, there are a number of provisions in place for all age ranges.
Rachel Walker, Mental Health Transformation Officer, runs the Headstart programme for the Community Trust, which focuses on the mental wellbeing of children.
“This role involves delivering mental health workshops and one-to-one support to Year Six and Year Seven children across Fleetwood to assist with their transition to secondary school,” she said. “This covers key topics, including resilience, anxiety, forming positive relationships and many more.
“This is essential for the community as it is ensuring that children feel ready and able to cope with their self-management when faced with this big change in their lives. This programme is to reduce the demand on mental health services and continues to enhance mental wellbeing of children within the Fleetwood community.”
Meanwhile, Emma Hickson, Community Engagement Coach for Health and Wellbeing, has established a weekly walk and talk session which provides people with the opportunity to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
“We want to target people who have perhaps been socially isolated or feeling rather lonely, people who have suffered with bereavement and various mental health issues,” she explained.
“We want to provide people with a platform where they can come and meet new friends, build up their social connections, but most importantly, being able to talk openly in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable.
Another programme is Healthy Heads, delivered to children in primary schools in Wyre by Fleetwood Town Community Trust in partnership with Healthy Heads Education. It combines both classroom learning and physical activity to engage children with topics such as self-esteem, resilience, confidence, relationships and team work to build character and improve mental wellbeing.
And Rick Clement has found new ways in which he can support veterans, from Zoom sessions on a Thursday for those unable to make it out of the house, football sessions on a Friday and monthly social meetings, along with events and other day trips.
Through the Community Trust, support for World Mental Health Day has never been stronger.