On Thursday 19th April Newquay Tretherras was selected to host a prestigious meeting and to present our work on young people’s mental wellbeing in Cornwall. The Liberal Democrat former Health Minister, Norman Lamb MP was amongst VIP guests that included Headstart Kernow Committee and Big Lottery Fund Members, the Chief Executive Officer of NET (Newquay Education Trust), well as students and parent who attend The Wave Well-being Centre at Newquay Tretherras.

Mr Lamb MP, has been a strong campaigner in Parliament for the improvement of young people’s mental health and written the ‘Future in Mind’ report, released in March 2015, that gave recommendations on strategies to promote, protect and improve children and young people’s mental well-being.

The intention behind the visit was to highlight the work at The Wave Centre in partnership with HeadStart Kernow to promote and support the mental well-being of young people. HeadStart Kernow is a partnership programme that develops resilience and mental well-being in young people: it is Cornwall Council led and Big Lottery funded. Newquay Tretherras has worked closely with HeadStart to develop sustainable systems to promote positive mental health and to respond to mental problems facing our young people.

Newquay Tretherras had the opportunity to showcase the work of The Wave, its personalised learning and well-being centre, which has now been running at Newquay Tretherras for 3 years. The Wave offers support for students who are experiencing emotional difficulties that can create barriers to learning. Students can access daily drop-in clinics, individual time to talk and targeted group work enabling them to receive information and advice in a non-judgemental and welcoming space.

During the afternoon students, with their parents, talked passionately to the guests about the positive impact that the work of The Wave has had on their lives and their ability to attend school and continue with their learning.

Mrs Lesley Debaene, Manager at The Wave, commented, ‘I am both privileged and honoured to manage The Wave and when we were chosen to showcase what we do here, I was both flattered and excited. I am proud of the support packages we offer students at Newquay Tretherras and how Headstart is supporting this work.’

Miss Hayley Coombes, SENDCo at Newquay Tretherras commented, ‘It really was a great privilege to be asked to share the work of The Wave here at Newquay Tretherras. We are incredibly proud of the young people and parents who spoke so honestly about the support that staff offer and the difference this has made. The Wave has grown and developed over the past three years in order to meet the changing climate of mental well-being for our young people. The staff at Newquay Tretherras and in The Wave are incredible. They really do care about the whole child and work tirelessly to ensure that students make good progress secured in an ethos of care and compassion.’