Supporting Mental Health Awareness Week with our charity partner Oxfordshire Youth
During Mental Health Awareness Week, we have been working with our Charity of the Year – Oxfordshire Youth – to champion the importance of children and young people’s mental health across our schools and communities by promoting the upcoming Youth in Mind conference.
Youth in Mind is the key annual mental health conference for everyone working with children and young people across Oxfordshire. It is organised by Oxfordshire Youth in collaboration with Oxfordshire Mind, and this year is hosted at St Edward’s on Tuesday 4th July.
The keynote speakers will be Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind, and Paul James, Chief Executive of the River Learning Trust, which runs 28 state schools in Oxfordshire. There will also be a variety of practical sessions led by local organisations including Family Links and Oxford City Farm.
Jodie Lloyd Jones
Jodie Lloyd Jones, CEO of Oxfordshire Youth, said this week: ‘Youth in Mind is a fantastic once in a year opportunity to galvanise the people and organisations passionate about solving the mental health crisis facing Oxfordshire’s young people. This conference unites education, public, health, police, and voluntary sectors, and most crucially creates a space for young people’s voices to be heard and be respected as part of the solutions. There has never been a more important time to ensure that every professional working with children and young people has the skills and connections they need to provide the best possible services.’
The Warden commented: ‘During Mental Health Awareness Week, those of us working with young people are particularly aware of the important role we play in supporting their mental health and wellbeing. All of us
School Pyschologist, Emma Speed-Andrews
welcome the opportunity to come together at the Youth in Mind conference to share research and practice, and support one another’s professional development.’
Dr Emma Speed-Andrews, School Psychologist, said: ‘As we reflect on our own practice during Mental Health Awareness Week, it is great to know we will have the chance to get together at the conference with colleagues from across Oxfordshire, and learn from each other’s experiences working with young people.’
If you would like to contribute towards our Charity of the Year fundraising, and support Oxfordshire Youth with their work improving the mental health of young people, please see our JustGiving page.