Children and Young People
The Schools’ Project
2018-2024
In 2018, the National Lottery recognised MCTC’s dedication to supporting our community’s mental health and awarded us funding to invest in the children of our community.
The grant we were awarded was used in our local schools dedicated to helping children and young people.
This has included not only placing counsellors in local schools but inviting in speakers (see below), running workshops, providing physical health training in schools and running staff sessions.
We’ve spent time getting to know what our schools need to improve the wellbeing of their staff and pupils.
Thanks to various local funders we have been able to keep our counselling and art therapy work running.
Helping Children and Young People In Schools
We started off in year one placing counsellors in schools, offering individual counselling to those young people who need it. Currently, we have four qualified counsellors and practitioners working both online and within schools.
However, in year 2 of our project, it was decided that as well as our counselling offer, we would also provide group delivery in schools on wellbeing, mental health, and developing emotional resilience. These groups were often in the form of assemblies for year groups but we have also delivered in smaller groups, to target delivery to specific pupils.
As a result, we expanded the MCTC team to include advocates from a variety of backgrounds to deliver talks on resilience and wellbeing and the importance of a positive mindset.
Our Team
NEIL HUGHES
Comedian, writer & TED talker
Neil is a local comedian, writer, and worrier. After living with anxiety for years, he shared his story in the book ‘Walking on Custard & the Meaning of Life’, a unique mix of humorous storytelling, raw honesty, and helpful ideas. He now shares his experiences through humour all over the UK.
He represented MCTC at a well-being day at Neston High School in October 2019, which was aimed at the local community, parents, and carers.
ANDY GRANT
ROYAL MARINES VETERAN, AMPUTEE AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
Andy has been through more than most have in his lifetime. From losing his mother aged 12, to joining the Royal Marines, he then served in Iraq and Afghanistan where he was injured by an IED. He was medically discharged and as an amputee, is the fastest man on one leg. Andy has since found success as a motivational speaker and coach and has his own podcast. Andy has been very busy on our behalf and has spoken at Wirral Boys, Upton, Egremont, St Peter’s, Weatherhead and Woodchurch. His talks are always well received. The follow up positive contact from pupils on his social media is testament to his impact.
DAVE BOLTON
Veteran, World Champion kickboxer, athlete
Dave served in Air Ops Iraq, survived being crushed by an articulated lorry and went on to become a World Champion kickboxer. A former high-flying former Detective Sergeant he tackled serious and organised crime. Having beaten cancer twice Dave continues to defy all odds outliving his current terminal diagnosis. Dave has spoken at Mosslands and Oldershaw, where the head commented he was the best speaker they had ever had in school.
PAUL WALMSLEY
Behaviour Coach and Mentor
Fifteen years ago, Paul Walmsley became Britain’s Most Wanted Man after getting involved in a plot to smuggle drugs worth £3.5m into the UK. That was only the tip of the iceberg: he’d been involved in crime for over 25 years.
Today, as a behaviour coach and mentor he is wanted for different reasons: to use his experiences to help young people stay on the straight and narrow or turn back from the brink of crime.
“I can tell young people that crime and the drugs game will eventually bite you back” he says. “I can tell them that very, very few manage to make a successful, long-term living from crime. And I can be a working role model to show that you can change.”