Delivering mental health training to youth workers
While health and wellbeing is a top priority for schools and community groups, a mental health training session for first aiders is not typically within a school’s budget. Supported by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, we developed and delivered a pilot programme of free Youth Mental Health First Aid training sessions to 60 community workers and schools in Bradford.
Setting the scene
In 2019, we opened an office in Bradford, creating over 200 jobs for local people and establishing the firm as a cornerstone employer in the city. With Bradford being an opportunity area among social hotspots, opening our office was a key social mobility intervention.
As part of our social mobility five-point action plan, we work with public and private sector partners to provide mentoring, skills development, and workplace experiences. With mental health and wellbeing high on the agenda for schools, we turned our attention to growing related skills.
How we helped
Core to our community engagement strategy in Bradford is using the national schools engagement programme, which is targeted at schools in social mobility coldspots with a higher than average proportion of students in receipt of free schools meals. It includes those from a lower socio-economic background and provides a wide range of skills development on topics including financial literacy, technology, and essential skills such as speaking and listening.
For this particular programme - a pilot - we worked with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to offer youth Mental Health First Aid training to schools and community workers across the city. With schools’ budgets stretched, we provided the training for free.
The project was led by Sean Maywood, our Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Over the course of six months, he delivered six, in-person, two-day Youth Mental Health First Aid courses. These took place in our Leeds Office and reached over 60 individuals who work with young people in Bradford.
Over the two-day course, we equipped youth workers with tools to provide Mental Health First Aid to the young people they support. Covering sensitive issues and topics, attendees said they felt “instantly at ease to share thoughts, opinions and experiences without judgement.” They also noted that the training provided information to help them understand mental health issues and support young people appropriately.
“I am so proud and privileged to be delivering this support to community workers in Bradford. The programme is integral to our purpose at PwC, addressing the impacts of social inequalities in our communities. So, when we talk about purpose at PwC, this programme certainly gives that to me.”
Making a difference
The training has given over 60 individuals the knowledge and confidence to provide Mental Health First Aid within the Bradford community. It has also helped them understand how to build a mentally healthy workplace, challenge stigma, and support positive wellbeing. Without PwC’s support, the schools would have struggled to deliver the training due to budget constraints.
Recognising the impact this type of training has and the positive feedback the programme received, we’ll continue to run the Youth Mental Health First Aid courses next year.
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