Sixth Form Pastoral Support
The Sixth Form Team are very dedicated to their support of all students in the Sixth Form.
Whether it is academic mentoring, PSHE sessions or emotional wellbeing support, our team will aim to provide individual and group care for all students.
In this section of the website you can find links to organisations, self care articles, guides to accessing support at the school, online safety advice and a who's who within the school.
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
Anyone can hit crisis point. We run a free and confidential helpline and webchat – 7 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems. We support those bereaved by suicide, through the Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP).
Mid-Kent Mind
Mid-Kent Mind offer virtual sessions to young people that are looking for extra support for their mental and emotional wellbeing. For availability and to register visit https://www.maidstonemind.org/free-mindfulness-sessions-young-people/.
Young Minds
"We want to see a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health, and all young people get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what."
Young Minds has a variety of resources available to help you look after your mental health and emotional wellbeing; from urgent help, to information about conditions and supporting resources for parents.
Young Minds Crisis Messenger
Text: YM to 85258
Mental Health Matters
Call 0800 107 0160 for 24 hour phone support from compassionate helpline staff, trained in counselling skills.
This service is provided by Mental Health Matters and you can visit their website for more information.
Visit https://www.mhm.org.uk/
Shout - Release the Pressure – 24 hour mental health crisis support
Text "Kent" to 85258 for 24 hour mental health crisis support via text from trained volunteers.
This service is provided by SHOUT and you can visit their website here https://www.giveusashout.org/
Kooth
1 in 5 children and young people suffer from mental health illness in any given year. At Kooth, we believe every young person has the right to thrive and to access high quality mental health care.
Kooth.com is commissioned by the NHS, Local Authorities, charities and businesses to provide anonymous and personalised mental health support for Children and Young People. With over 4000 logins per day, we provide end to end support whatever the need.
Kooth is available in Kent to young people aged 10-25 which means that students in the Sixth Form can continue accessing support once they have left for Higher Education or the workplace.
Oasis Domestic Abuse Service
http://www.oasisdaservice.org/
Our One Stop Shop will be run over the phone until further notice.
For advice and support please call: 078 5685 6278
We are extending the time staff will be available to:
Monday – 11am -12pm
Tuesday – 9.30am -12pm
Wednesday – 10am -12pm
Thursday – 11am-12pm
Thank you for your co-operation whilst we do our best to support you at this time.
Services I Can Use
You can ring 07718657160 to talk to the RAISE team who provide adult services or call the Early Intervention team who provide services for young people on 07718657157. These are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
IASK - Information, Advice and Support Kent
We offer
Information, advice and support to children, young people and parents/carers about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This includes health and social care where it is linked to education.
We are
A free, confidential and impartial service based in Kent. Staff and volunteers are independently trained in SEND.
We have
A Steering Group which includes parents, young people, representatives from local voluntary groups, children's services, parent/carer forum, education and social care. Together we plan the services we offer across Kent.
The Mix
Offers support to anyone under 25 about anything that’s troubling them.
Email support available via their online contact form.
Free 1-2-1 webchat service available.
Free short-term counselling service available.
Phone: 0808 808 4994
Opening times: 4pm - 11pm, seven days a week
BEAT
Beat is the UK’s eating disorder charity
The BEAT website has a wealth of information and support for any young person that is dealing with an eating disorder but can also support those who are trying to help someone.
They have a chat room where you can engage with others to find support, advice and guidance - click here.
Metro Charity
Health, community and youth services across London and the South East
Metro is an equality and diversity charity providing health, community and youth services in England.
"We promote health and wellbeing through our transformative services to anyone experiencing issues relating to sexuality, gender, equality, diversity and identity, and use our unique insight from these transformative services and our diverse heritage to influence decision makers and to effect positive change."
Services available - https://metrocharity.org.uk/services
MeeToo App
The MeeToo app is a platform for young people to anonymously peer support each other through emotional wellbeing and mental health problems.
Users can post questions or statements and receive answers from other users within their age bracket. Every single post is moderated by a professional before being published and complex issues will be referred to a member of MeeToo's counselling team.
There is also a directory of 24/7 crisis services, user stories, suggested reading material and specialist helplines.
The app can be downloaded from Android and Apple stores. Visit their guide to the app here - https://www.meetoo.help/how-meetoo-works
Things you can do to support you Emotional Wellbeing;
- Talk to someone. The best thing we can do to support our own emotions is to discuss it with somebody we trust. This can be a family member, friend, school staff, trusted adult or a professional.
- Log our feelings. It can be very therapeutic to write down our feelings. It helps to process these emotions and can "take them out of our mind".
- Figure out the best coping mechanisms. We don't always know what works best for us when it comes to our own emotions but trying new things is important. It may be music, exercise, art, talking, meditation or breathing techniques.
- Look for a balance in life. Making sure that you have a mix of all the important things in life such as work, study, exercise, socialising and rest can have a huge impact.
- Don't bottle up your feelings. Let them out as often as you can.
- Try to appreciate that there are somethings you can control and some you can't....as much as we would like to!
