‘Self-Care Summer’ brought to life by students at NottAlone Live

The NottAlone Live events, which are annual mental health events for children and young people from across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, were held on Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 July at The YMCA Community and Activity Village in Newark, with a resoundingly positive response from the young attendees.

This year is the first year where student ambassadors were selected to help choose the theme of the event, as well as plan their own workshops which included making vision boards and dreamcatchers, with mental health and wellbeing as their key message.

Raj Butler, Academy Counsellor at Arnold Hill Academy, who works with the Arnold Hill pupil ambassadors, said:

“I’m so proud to see how these students have absolutely blossomed in these roles as student ambassadors with NottAlone. These kids don’t always recognise their full potential, but this project has really given them a spark and made them feel valued and appreciated.

“I’m honestly just so proud of them. They’ve gained confidence, formed friendships with each other, and realised their own potential which has been so special. It’s just been amazing to see them come into their own and I can’t wait to see what they do next.”

Three pupil ambassadors from Arnold Hill Academy shared their reflections on the event.

Emily said:

“My highlight has probably been lunchtime – not because of the food! But because of the DJ and there were loads of vibes and loads of people were dancing and we are all just there together as a group and it just felt really nice to kind of have a little bit of a new family for me.”

Jasmine said:

“I think it’s really nice in our workshops that the other school students have just listened really well and they’ve just got on with it and managed to make some really cool things.

“I was a little bit scared, especially this morning because we’ve never done anything like this before, but it’s been really nice and I feel a lot better now, I was more confident to do the next workshop because I already knew what it would be like and it’s just been really fun.”

Lara said:

“It’s been so rewarding seeing all your plans go well and it’s had a really positive impact on [the other young people], and I hope it helps them further. I think it’s quite good that they’re engaging, and they seem happier at the end of it too.”

The wider event included workshops from professionals across the NottAlone partnership at Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire NHS), with themes around mental health, resilience, friendships and kindness, as well as inviting trusted suppliers dance, yoga and ‘rap for mental health’ sessions.

Mental health and wellbeing services and support organisations were also invited to hold stalls at the event, where approximately 30 stallholders were set up for the young people to learn about and engage in short activities with.

The wide range of stallholders helped the event to achieve its core goal of helping children and young people understand where to go for mental health support and advice when they need it. Stallholders ranged from Nottinghamshire Police Youth Outreach, B U Notts, Positively Empowered Kids, to stallholders for youth services, women’s aid, mental health support teams, NHS, bereavement support and many more.

Also at the event, NottAlone co-founders and podcast hosts Dr Órlaith Green and Dr Maddi Popoola recorded a special bonus episode of The NottAlone Podcast, capturing the voices and experiences of young people at the event. The episode, which will be released later in July, heard from the student ambassadors from Arnold Hill Academy as well as young people from schools across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire who were attending the event.

Dr Órlaith Green, NottAlone Co-Founder and Educational Psychologist, said:

“I get so inspired every year when I see all these children and young people at NottAlone Live and this year really is no exception. It’s such a lovely thing to see them coming out of their shells, gaining confidence and taking part in activities they wouldn’t ordinarily be exposed to.

“Having student ambassadors for the first time has been such a breakthrough experience for us, it’s been incredible to see them bring their own ideas to our event, for them to tell us what they think their peers want to see and do. And of course, they were right! Their workshops were so popular and it was wonderful to see these young people really come into their own.”

Dr Maddi Popoola, NottAlone Co-Founder and Educational Psychologist, said:

“I’ve found it such an emotional experience this year to see how meaningful and impactful it’s been for our student ambassadors to get so hands-on with our event. You could see their smiles beaming both days, and their enthusiasm and gratitude for the opportunity genuinely had me tearful.

“This really is why we do what we do, it’s what NottAlone Live is all about. Giving children and young people opportunities that they wouldn’t normally receive, especially those young people who can be overlooked and sometimes even dismissed, is a great feeling and you truly get to see a spark ignite in them, something’s inspired them and it’s set them on a path. It’s truly just so worthwhile and I already can’t wait for next year!”

NottAlone is a mental health initiative with a website providing mental health information and links to support for people of all ages in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. It is a partnership between Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board.