Bags of kindness from mental health service

Educational psychologist Chloe Harby from information and support service NottAlone, joined the college’s wellbeing manager Joanne Roberts in the college’s wellbeing hub, to deliver 100 canvas tote bags.

These bags will be used by the college’s welfare team to offer students a range of materials designed to support good mental health. Items such as fidget toys, mindful colouring pads and small journals and pens for recording their thoughts will be added to the bags.

In addition, leaflets about NottAlone will be offered. NottAlone is a partnership between Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board.

The service is open to individuals aged under 25, parents or carers, and professionals who work with or support young people, and signposts them to where to go to get help about a range of concerns such as anxiety, bereavement, bullying, depression, trauma, suicide and more.

Chloe and her team often host pop-up stalls at events held at college wellbeing events and in local schools, to signpost young people to the organisation. In addition, NottAlone is involved with training staff in schools and colleges to become senior mental health lead practitioners.

Chloe said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer the college our bags and information. It’s great that the welfare team have this wellbeing hub for students to come to if they need support and having some of our literature available for them to browse will reassure individuals that they really are not alone.

Joanne Roberts said: “This kind donation will mean we have a discrete way of offering students some great mindfulness activities and resources as well as the NottAlone advice leaflets.

“We’re going to be introducing bespoke resources for students with different emotional needs alongside the items we have.

“We’re really grateful to Chloe and her team and we look forward to our continued work with NottAlone.”