More than a step in the right direction as hundreds receive crucial support

“It has made me feel like I can speak to someone, and I have learnt not to bottle my feelings up. I feel less stressed and anxious.”

These are the words of just one of more than 300 referrals to the Coleg Cambria-led Supportive Steps programme, which offers mental health and wellbeing support to those in education.

The project has received £767,381 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Thanks to the funding, the college has been able to put several resources in place to provide crucial assistance for students who may be struggling to attend their courses. 

These include resilience coaches, wellbeing advisors, student services, and referrals to external counsellors with some 910 individual sessions leading to a 92 per cent retention rate in relation to learners staying in education across the 2023/24 academic year.

Of those 287 people to have successfully completed their course, one student spoke about the reasons for seeking support, and the impact that has had on them.

They said: “It was mainly for anxiety and stress caused by others and stressing over the smallest of things, conflict caused by other learners too.

“I discussed support with student services and a staff member referred me to the resilience coach and told me that someone could help me work through these things. 

“I leave my sessions and then think about things from different perspectives, and this helps me worry less. She has also helped me recognise patterns in how I think and ways I put myself down. 

“We have also focused on confidence, self-worth and recognising the difference between past to present relationships and my own value in the new relationship I am in.”

The support received is having a positive effect after fear, anxiety, and stress were caused due to conflict with other learners, which led to the individual drastically altering their daily routine when it came to travelling to, and walking around, college.

The student added: “I now know to tell people how I am feeling and will use this as a way to open up to family more so they can help me. 

“I feel I have a more positive mind, too, and think things through in different ways. I am able to use the bus again after college incidents made me scared; my dad used to pick me up.”

Bethan Charles, head of learner services at Coleg Cambria, is grateful for the funding received from the UKSPF given the impact the programme has had on learners.

She said: “Our team has done a wonderful job of putting systems and support networks in place for students to access.

“One look at the number of learners the scheme has helped shows just how valuable this has been for those attending college.

“There have been times when I’ve thought about what might have happened to some of the individuals we’ve assisted if this hadn’t been in place, including whether some would have left college before completing their course.

“We hope that the scheme can be extended by the provision of similar funding as there are many students who need that support to complete their studies.”

Councillor Chris Dolphin, Flintshire County Council cabinet member for economy, environment, and climate, added: “It’s another fine example of the impact the UKSPF has had in the region.

“With more than 300 learners accessing the scheme, it’s significance in helping the mental health and wellbeing of students can not be underestimated.

“I’m pleased to see the positive impression Supportive Steps has made on the learning development of young people and the education system.”