Notts County Foundation has teamed up with BBC Children in Need and DFS Group in support of Mental Health Awareness Week.
Based on this year’s theme of loneliness, Notts County Foundation, BBC Children in Need, and DFS Group have produced a short video focussing on the Goals For Life programme, which is a 10-week project that combines physical activity, peer support, and workshops to improve the wellbeing of young people aged 11-18-years-old, with the aim of improving self-esteem and self-confidence, improving relationships with peers, and increasing positive empowerment.
Lucy Devine, Mental Health Officer at Notts County Foundation, said: “We are delighted and incredibly proud to have the opportunity to work alongside two national organisations to promote our Goals For Life project. With the programme being funded by BBC Children in need and DFS kindly supporting the refurbishment of our training suite, we believe that we will be able to create a flagship facility in the heart of the Meadows.”
Notts County Foundation recently unveiled plans to transform the training suite on the top floor of the Portland Centre into a community mental wellbeing space – The Retreat, which will be designed to provide local people with a safe and supportive area to use at their leisure. The space, which will feature a smaller consultation room called The Den, will focus on ‘bringing the outside inside’ and feature an abundance of natural colours and lighting. DFS Group’s Design & Development department in Long Eaton has generously agreed to provide all of the required furniture and fixtures for the Retreat and Den, as well as create brand-new, bespoke items that help to encourage and generate conversation.
Dawn Watts, Regional Officer at BBC Children in Need, said: “BBC Children in Need has funded Notts County Foundation over the last 10-years, to deliver the Goals for Life project.
“During COVID, the programme was delivered virtually with the aid of a specially developed interactive booklet and access to digital social media resources, thankfully they are now able to deliver face to face again, and children are reporting feeling more confident and have increased ability to deal with the stress and isolation caused during COVID.
“Having recently been awarded a further grant, we look forward to continuing working alongside them for the benefit of children and young people who are struggling to maintain good mental health in and around Nottinghamshire and are thrilled that our wonderful corporate partner DFS, can now support them too!”
