The ‘Step-Up’ scheme will provide online presentations and five live sessions each week (1pm-2pm, Monday to Friday) covering six key themes, including motivation, confidence and self-esteem, coping strategies and resilience, communication, goal setting and aspiration, and the importance of routines.
The targeted programme, which has been developed by LFC Foundation’s mental health lead and school coordinators, allows pupils to participate online either as individuals or within a class session.
The five-week ‘Step-Up’ programme will be available to those in years 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 across the Liverpool City Region, providing more than 25 hours of support work to help local pupils prepare for returning to school.
It has been made possible by funding secured from the Steve Morgan Foundation’s Emergency Fund, which was set up in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to help support north west charities and not-for-profit companies.
Matt Parish, director at LFC Foundation, said: “Returning to school after a long period of absence, or changing from primary school to secondary school, can be a very stressful and anxious time for pupils, especially those from vulnerable or disadvantaged backgrounds. When you then add the impact of the coronavirus pandemic to this it becomes very clear that our children and young people need the right support more than ever.
“This new programme provides remote targeted mental health support alongside advice and guidance on important key skills, which will aim to help pupils going through this transition back to school or to a new secondary school.
“The team and I are really excited to launch ‘Step-Up’ next week within schools across Merseyside that we currently work with across the Liverpool City Region, and we hope to provide essential support to local pupils.”