● MELVA supports children at a developmentally critical age to teach meaningful wellbeing strategies and develop emotional resilience
● Mortal Fools has teamed up with North of Tyne Combined Authority to give 50 schools across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland free access to the 2023/2024 MELVA programme ● Eligible schools are encouraged to apply to tackle the growing mental health crisis among young people, in which an average of 5 children per classroom are likely to have a diagnosable mental health condition A new partnership between a local creative intervention programme and the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) aims to support the mental health of children across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland. Award-winning theatre, drama and creative learning charity Mortal Fools will work with NTCA to offer its specially developed creative intervention programme MELVA free of charge to 50 schools across the area for the 2023/2024 period, providing vital support at a time when at least 1 in 6 children aged 7-16 are likely to have a diagnosable mental health condition - an average of 5 children per classroom. Designed in response to the nationwide children’s mental health crisis and the 2017 green paper ‘Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision’, MELVA is a creative intervention programme for key stage two children (ages 7-11), their teachers and families. Initially created as a live performance package, the MELVA programme has since been developed into a digital resource to support young people across the whole of the UK. Comprising of a series of animations, a feature film split into episodes as well as an interactive choose-your-own-adventure game – all three elements are designed to go hand in hand with lesson plans and classroom resources. The MELVA intervention follows the adventures of Melva Mapletree, a young girl who navigates a set of challenges as she learns to recognise, understand and manage her ‘worrits’ - what she calls those niggling worries and concerns that can be difficult for children to identify. Usually a chargeable web-based creative programme available through annual licences, MELVA is designed to be led by teaching staff in schools, taking children through a fun and creative story-based programme designed to help them better understand and manage their emotions and mental wellbeing. Schools that participate in the NTCA scheme will have access to the programme from October 2023 until August 2024, including a unique school login for the full MELVA online portal, a bank of extension activities and themed assemblies, a dedicated MELVA Teacher Area and evaluation reports. Eligible schools are encouraged to apply, and successful applicants will also be eligible for discounted renewal rates for 2024/2025. In addition, schools undertaking the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools Award can use the completion of the MELVA programme as part of their evidence portfolio. By providing this programme free to 50 of the region’s schools, both Mortal Fools and NTCA hope to tackle the current national mental health crisis amongst children and young people. Kiz Crosbie, CEO of Mortal Fools, commented: “We are delighted to be working with North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) for our Melva programme 2023-24. Both Mortal Fools and NTCA are committed to finding innovative ways to tackle the national mental health crisis amongst children and young people, including practical support for teachers. The funding support NTCA have provided enables us to make the Melva programme available free of charge to 50 schools in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland – putting these important resources into the lives of thousands of North East children when the world is such a challenging place.” Cllr Karen Kilgour, NTCA Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and Skills said: “School disruption due to COVID-19 has had significant impact on pupil’s academic achievement and is set to have a long tail of mental health repercussions. Evidence tells us that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately affected. At the North of Tyne Combined Authority, we are delighted to be working in partnership with award winning theatre, drama and creative learning charity, Mortal Fools to deliver MELVA. This creative approach to mental health and wellbeing, will support our region's children to develop resilience pathways and positive emotional responses and relationships.” For more information on the MELVA programme visit www.melva.org.uk. To find out more about how a school setting can get involved and to download the expression of interest form, visit: https://melva.org.uk/north-of-tyne/
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We are delighted to be working in partnership with Prince's Trust on this personal development programme for young people aged 16-30years old: Get Started with Performance & Creativity. 📣It’s free and applications are open now! 📣 This weeklong programme is perfect for folks that would like to 👇
This week – is not just for folks interested in the creative sector, it’s for anyone aged 16-30years old, who is curious about how creativity and related skills and thinking processes, are game changing employability strengths. And of course, as it’s Mortal Fools – participants will have lots of fun, do lots of practical activities (no death by PowerPoint – we promise!) and it will be unlike any programme you’ve experienced before! We wrap up the week by celebrating everything you’ve achieved with a special event. It’s a great way to finish the course – with your new friends – and folks can invite family and friends to join in with you. It’s totally free to attend the week and lunch (and snacks!) are provided each day! Creative brains need good creative fuel! Beyond the week session – Mortal Fools will host a “reunion” style session (date TBC) to bring everyone back together for some reflections and fun, AND Princes Trust will offer bespoke package of support for each participant, responding to their aspirations and needs! Key info:
🌟 Sign up and find out more by emailing: princestrustNE@princes-trust.org.uk 🌟 Taster session: 10th October – come along and meet Mortal Fools & have a taster of the programme! 🌟 Get Started with Performance & Creativity dates: 16th – 20th October. 🌟 Application deadline: 9th October. 🌟 Location: Princes Trust, Newcastle city centre. Get ready to unleash your creativity with Mortal Fools and Princes Trust and sign up now! We are so excited! ● The MELVA programme supports children at a developmentally critical age to teach effective wellbeing strategies and build emotional resilience. ● Schools access the MELVA programme through annual licences, which can be gifted by businesses as part of their ESG commitments. ● Muckle LLP and Ryder Architecture have gifted 13 MELVA licences to schools across the North. A unique programme supporting children aged 7-11 years with their mental health has secured the backing of two of the region’s most prominent businesses. Law firm Muckle LLP and architecture practice Ryder Architecture have joined forces with award winning theatre, drama, and creative learning company Mortal Fools to support the distribution of their children’s mental health programme, MELVA, by gifting 13 licences between them to schools across the North. MELVA is a creative intervention programme for key stage two children, their teachers, and families, designed in response to the 2017 green paper ‘Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision’ and the national young people’s mental health crisis, which currently sees one in six children aged 5-16 with diagnosable mental health conditions. Initially established by Mortal Fools as a live touring performance package by for North East schools, the MELVA programme has since been developed into a digital resource, making it accessible to thousands of young people across the UK, with 66 schools having used it so far. This chargeable web-based creative programme, which is available through annual licences, MELVA is designed to be led by teaching staff in schools, taking children through a fun and creative story-based programme designed to help them better understand and manage their emotions and mental wellbeing. Consisting of animations, a feature film split into episodes, an interactive choose-your-own- adventure game, a toolbox of teacher resources, interactive classroom resources and flexible delivery structure - the MELVA programme follows the adventures of Melva Mapletree, a young girl who navigates a set of challenges as she learns to recognise, understand and manage her ‘worrits’ - what she calls those niggling worries and concerns that can be difficult for children to identify and deal with. The digital resource was particularly beneficial for young people’s mental health during Covid-19 and supporting with the isolation caused by lockdowns and the ongoing post-pandemic impact. Kiz Crosbie, Mortal Fools CEO & Artistic Director said: “Collaborations with compassionate and civic-minded business partners like Muckle LLP and Ryder Architecture enables us to remove significant barriers for schools to access this important programme, placing effective mental health resources directly into the hands of the children who need it most. The more businesses like this we work with, the more children we can reach. We would love more businesses to invest in Melva, so we can reach even more young people!”
The support of businesses like Muckle LLP and Ryder Architecture enables schools, many of whom have been impacted by increasing demands and shrinking budgets, to access the MELVA programme and learn new ways to support their children. Muckle LLP community team selected five North East schools to gift MELVA to as part of their evolving commitment to ESG, while Ryder Architecture are gifting eight licences to schools across the North as part of their 70th anniversary celebrations. Hugh Welch, senior partner from Muckle LLP commented: “We are delighted to have been able to partner with Mortal Fools. We believe that business can and should be a force for good - giving back and sharing our success is central to our values and culture. We know that all actions, big and small, can move the needle in a positive direction. That’s why it’s important for us to be able to support our local community with resources like MELVA, that align with our values of supporting young people, overcoming disadvantage, and improving social mobility.” Richard Wise, Partner from Ryder Architecture added: “I have two hats to wear when it comes to Mortal Fools. As a partner at Ryder Architecture, I cannot praise them enough for what they do. Many of our people have benefitted from the personal and professional develop training programmes they deliver. As Chair of Trustees, I am incredibly proud of the positive impact Mortal Fools has on the lives of the young people they serve. Melva has never been more relevant, it tackles issues of anxiety, confidence and mental health in an imaginative and engaging way, and we are delighted to have been able to support the programme as part of our 70th anniversary year.” For more information on the MELVA programme visit www.melva.org.uk To download the MELVA brochure showcasing how businesses can support children and young peoples’ mental health by investing into the programme click here! |