Helen Wilson is the mdeducational foundation Wellbeing Lead for Kings Academy Easthampstead Park School in Bracknell.
As part of her role, Helen provides much-needed mental health support to students aged 16-18. This position is funded by our three-year grant that places Wellbeing Professionals into Further Education establishments.
We spoke to Helen to learn more about her experience in the role.
Hi Helen! Tell us about your experience before you became a Wellbeing Lead.
My journey to this role was a little untraditional!
I’m originally from Doncaster and moved to London to study Film and TV production. I worked in the industry for a while before realising it wasn’t for me.
Having had my own experiences of mental ill health during my transition to university and experiencing first-hand the positive benefits of counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), I felt inspired to change careers and do something more worthwhile.
I decided to do a part-time SEG Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and am now in my final year. During lockdown, I decided to change direction and find a role that complemented this training.
What attracted you to this role?
I was initially a Welfare Officer at another college, which was an incredible experience, and it showed me I was heading in the right direction.
I was attracted to this role partially because it’s brand new and meant I could decide how I wanted the position to look. I have been able to make my own sessions and workshops. I have loved putting my stamp on this role and feel I am truly making a difference.
My training focuses on the individual, discovering how we can facilitate a space that helps them make positive changes on their terms. What makes this role different is that in addition to providing a safe space, I am also supporting young people to find solutions to their issues.
What have you implemented so far?
Although you don’t need to have counselling training to do this role, I have found it helpful to inform my approach. I have taken elements of CBT to teach students practical coping strategies.
Some of the support I have implemented that has had a positive uptake includes a six-week workshop on managing anxiety and five weeks focused on improving self-esteem. Workshops have around five participants per session discussing that week’s topic. The key benefit is that students have a safe space to talk about their experiences. They often discover their peers share some of those experiences, which helps them feel less alone.
I also run weekly one-to-one sessions with some students and one-off sessions for anyone having a bad day. In addition to mental health support, I also support students with organisation and time management, which can help them relieve some built-up stress.
The school provided me with a private Wellbeing Hub that students can visit if they feel overwhelmed or need a place to relax. The radio is always on, there are plenty of colouring books, and card games too!
What was the application process like?
The job description immediately spoke to me. I met all the requirements and remember discussing the opportunity with my family and saying, “This is me!”
In my final interview, I had to create and run a 20-minute workshop with a few students, complete a written test, and have a group interview with the Sixth Form team and mdeducational Foundation.
I mainly work with the school day to day, but I have occasional check-ins with Izzy, the Foundation Coordinator, who checks that I have everything I need and finds out how I am doing. She visited very recently to experience one of my workshops. For the most part, she is there to listen whilst I make the role my own.
What is your advice for anyone interested in becoming a Wellbeing Lead?
Do it! The opportunity is so rewarding. I love the freedom I have to make this role my own, and although the position can be challenging at times, I go home every day feeling like I have done good.
There’s no other role like this. Although my previous experience was similar, I also had a lot of other responsibilities in areas like attendance. Now I only have wellbeing as my core focus, meaning I can make a much more significant impact.
I’ve also had fantastic feedback from the students. One even said they wished “everyone had a Miss Wilson.” Having someone they can go to when they need help has made a world of difference for these young people.
