Parent's Christmas Newsletter 2022
Dear Parents/Guardians
As Christmas draws near and we look back on a year of challenges and opportunities it is good to see the phenomenal developments post the covid closure era!
At the various sites of the College, we have continued to invest in state-of-the-at learning and support facilities for our learners ensuring at all times we have been focussed on supportive learning environments with inclusivity at the heart of all we do. I am pleased to report that we opened our new premises in Bristol recently where the city centre location is specialising in facilities that enable rapid progression in gaining new skills with bespoke support. Our world continues to change but at the same time we continue to deliver outstanding resources and commitment to everyone we are responsible for. When it comes to the topic of student support and care, in November we were thrilled to be able to celebrate being the first college to be awarded Gold for the Further Education Mental Health award, along with being the first college to achieve the People, Culture and Wellbeing Award. The wellbeing and safety of our community remains our number one priority.
This newsletter will bring you up to date on our resources and services that maintain outstanding teaching and learning but also how we can support learners over the holiday period.
A reminder that the College will close for the festive period on Friday 23rd December 2022 and will re-open on Tuesday January 3rd 2023 for the start of the spring term.
From all the Weston College staff and governors, we wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.
Sir Paul Phillips CBE
Principal & Chief Executive
Staying Safe During the Holiday Season
College holidays can be difficult for anyone, at any point in their life. Through the ups and downs of the Christmas break, you won't be alone. This year we have put together a campaign under the banner, How Do You Look After You? to make our students aware of the support available to them over the festive period.
Below you will find information on certain elements of our student support package, including Togetherall and our own 'Let's Chat' project along with some additional useful and supportive information and networks.
All students can find out much more via the Wellbeing@Weston Sharepoint site that is the home to lots of wellbeing and welfare-related information and resources together with other useful links and contacts. This can also ne accessed through the MyWeston app.
This year in particular, we recognise how the cost of living could be impacting you. If this is a concern to your family, please see link in additional support section to find support along with a warm safe space, A reminder that the College's emergency safeguarding team will operate over Christmas. All you need to do is call 01934 411464.
Togetherall
Togetherall is a peer-to-peer mental health support community which is available online, 24/7, and is completely anonymous so you can express yourself freely and openly. Licensed and registered mental health practitioners, called Wall Guides, monitor the community to ensure the safety and anonymity of all members. In addition to Toegtherall's online community, you will have access to a wealth of useful resources and can work through tailored self-help courses covering topics such as anxiety, sleep, depression and many more.
Joining Togetherall provides something that has always been important for good mental health and wellbeing: a community for shared experiences and mutual support. The platform promotes a sense of belonging and connection through community. It’s accessible anywhere, anytime, 24/7.
What's available on Togetherall?
- Self-help courses – Students can enrol and take part in interactive group courses on a variety of topics to help them feel more in control of their emotional health. They can take the course at a pace that suits them - it's there whenever they need it.
- Articles - Series of articles that are designed to help students understand more about some of the issues they or others may be facing and learn skills to help improve wellbeing.
- Useful tools - Interactive tools that capture and track their own progress and identify new areas to focus on.
- Self-assessments - short questionnaires offer a way to capture how they are feeling and gauge their development over time.
Togetherall is FREE for all college staff and learners. All learners need to do is click here and register with their college email.
Let's Chat
Let’s Chat is wellbeing and mental health hub created by Weston College. It is free to use and is utilised by the further education sector nationally. They are various resources available from toolkits to interactive webinars. Let’s Chat webinars include:
- 12 x 20-30 minute videos on key topics around mental health and wellbeing
- The Four Pillars of Eat, Sleep, Move and Relax
- 8 of the key themes that are affecting staff and students today
- Anxiety, Stress, Social-isolation, Resilience and more
Click here to access the website.
Mental Health and the Festive Period
Below is a list of some insightful and meaningful resources that can help student and parents over the festive period.
- Christmas and Mental Health - Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health problems
- Looking after your mental health at Christmas - Mental Health Foundation
- Top tips for staying mentally well during Christmas and New Year (charliewaller.org)
- 5 steps to mental wellbeing - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- The Little Book of Mental Health pdf
- Mental Health at Christmas - Health Assured
- Coping at Christmas - Looking After Your Mental Health - Priory group
- Looking after your mental health at Christmas - YoungMinds
- Tips for Looking After Yourself at Christmas - YoungMinds
- Cost of Living Support - North Somerset Council
- Keeping Warm this Christmas - North Somerset Council
Other sources of support
Mental health emergencies are serious. You’re not wasting anyone’s time. If your life is at risk, act immediate please.
- Call 999 for an ambulance
- go straight to A&E if you can
- call your local crisis team
- Kooth - your online mental wellbeing community. Free, safe and anonymous support.
- Samaritans - call for free 116 123 - whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you 24/7
- SHOUT - for 24/7 support in a crisis, text SHOUT to 85258
- FRANK (substance abuse): Text 82111
- Hope Line (those at risk of self-harm/suicidal thoughts) 0800 0684 141 or text 077 86 209 697
- The Trussel Trust - Emergency food and support for people in need. Includes a searchable list of local foodbanks. Each foodbank will arrange its own Christmas hours. you need a voucher from their referral agency first, so find your nearest foodbank, and find out when their referral agency is open too.
- Next Link North Somerset - domestic abuse telephone help lines are open 8.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am – 1pm Saturday 0800 4700 280. Help is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the National Domestic Violence Helpline – Freephone 0808 2000 247
Staying Safe During the Holiday Season
College holidays can be difficult for anyone, at any point in their life. Through the ups and downs of the Christmas break, you won't be alone. This year we have put together a campaign under the banner, How Do You Look After You? to make our students aware of the support available to them over the festive period.
Below you will find information on certain elements of our student support package, including Togetherall and our own 'Let's Chat' project along with some additional useful and supportive information and networks.
All students can find out much more via the Wellbeing@Weston Sharepoint site that is the home to lots of wellbeing and welfare-related information and resources together with other useful links and contacts. This can also ne accessed through the MyWeston app.
This year in particular, we recognise how the cost of living could be impacting you. If this is a concern to your family, please see link in additional support section to find support along with a warm safe space, A reminder that the College's emergency safeguarding team will operate over Christmas. All you need to do is call 01934 411464.
Togetherall
Togetherall is a peer-to-peer mental health support community which is available online, 24/7, and is completely anonymous so you can express yourself freely and openly. Licensed and registered mental health practitioners, called Wall Guides, monitor the community to ensure the safety and anonymity of all members. In addition to Toegtherall's online community, you will have access to a wealth of useful resources and can work through tailored self-help courses covering topics such as anxiety, sleep, depression and many more.
Joining Togetherall provides something that has always been important for good mental health and wellbeing: a community for shared experiences and mutual support. The platform promotes a sense of belonging and connection through community. It’s accessible anywhere, anytime, 24/7.
What's available on Togetherall?
- Self-help courses – Students can enrol and take part in interactive group courses on a variety of topics to help them feel more in control of their emotional health. They can take the course at a pace that suits them - it's there whenever they need it.
- Articles - Series of articles that are designed to help students understand more about some of the issues they or others may be facing and learn skills to help improve wellbeing.
- Useful tools - Interactive tools that capture and track their own progress and identify new areas to focus on.
- Self-assessments - short questionnaires offer a way to capture how they are feeling and gauge their development over time.
Togetherall is FREE for all college staff and learners. All learners need to do is click here and register with their college email.
Let's Chat
Let’s Chat is wellbeing and mental health hub created by Weston College. It is free to use and is utilised by the further education sector nationally. They are various resources available from toolkits to interactive webinars. Let’s Chat webinars include:
- 12 x 20-30 minute videos on key topics around mental health and wellbeing
- The Four Pillars of Eat, Sleep, Move and Relax
- 8 of the key themes that are affecting staff and students today
- Anxiety, Stress, Social-isolation, Resilience and more
Click here to access the website.
Mental Health and the Festive Period
Below is a list of some insightful and meaningful resources that can help student and parents over the festive period.
- Christmas and Mental Health - Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health problems
- Looking after your mental health at Christmas - Mental Health Foundation
- Top tips for staying mentally well during Christmas and New Year (charliewaller.org)
- 5 steps to mental wellbeing - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- The Little Book of Mental Health pdf
- Mental Health at Christmas - Health Assured
- Coping at Christmas - Looking After Your Mental Health - Priory group
- Looking after your mental health at Christmas - YoungMinds
- Tips for Looking After Yourself at Christmas - YoungMinds
- Cost of Living Support - North Somerset Council
- Keeping Warm this Christmas - North Somerset Council
Other sources of support
Mental health emergencies are serious. You’re not wasting anyone’s time. If your life is at risk, act immediate please.
- Call 999 for an ambulance
- go straight to A&E if you can
- call your local crisis team
- Kooth - your online mental wellbeing community. Free, safe and anonymous support.
- Samaritans - call for free 116 123 - whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you 24/7
- SHOUT - for 24/7 support in a crisis, text SHOUT to 85258
- FRANK (substance abuse): Text 82111
- Hope Line (those at risk of self-harm/suicidal thoughts) 0800 0684 141 or text 077 86 209 697
- The Trussel Trust - Emergency food and support for people in need. Includes a searchable list of local foodbanks. Each foodbank will arrange its own Christmas hours. you need a voucher from their referral agency first, so find your nearest foodbank, and find out when their referral agency is open too.
- Next Link North Somerset - domestic abuse telephone help lines are open 8.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am – 1pm Saturday 0800 4700 280. Help is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the National Domestic Violence Helpline – Freephone 0808 2000 247
