HUGE REGIONAL BOOST FOR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH AS NORTH EAST COMBINED AUTHORITY SUPPORTS CREATIVE LEARNING INTERVENTION

●Over 10,000 North East children have been supported through the MELVA programme thanks to North East Combined Authority funding
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● Developed by Mortal Fools, MELVA uses creative activities to help children aged 7-11 understand and manage their mental wellbeing

● Children who have participated in MELVA have increased their practical knowledge of how to manage their mental health by up to 99%

Melva lesson at Hawthorn Primary School. Photo Credit: Von Fox Promotions

A creative intervention programme tackling the UK’s wellbeing crisis among children has reached tens of thousands of children across the North East, thanks to funding from the North East Combined Authority.
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According to a 2024 post by the Children’s Commissioner, NHS statistics showed that more than 500 children a day in England are being referred to mental health services for anxiety.

Developed by award-winning theatre, drama and creative learning charity Mortal Fools, the MELVA programme was developed as a direct response to the national crisis. The programme is an innovative digital media intervention, using storytelling and creative activities to improve children and young people’s knowledge and understanding of mental health and wellbeing, and teach transformational self-management techniques.

MELVA uses an early intervention and prevention approach rooted in ratified and recognised wellbeing research, including the PERMA™ wellbeing framework and the NHS 5 Steps to Wellbeing.

It is designed to be used by schools and in education settings with young people aged 7-11 (Key Stage 2), and aims to support all children, not just those who are struggling.

Melva CPD day at One Strawberry Lane. Photo Credit: Von Fox Promotions

Following its launch, MELVA initially secured over £30,000 of funding from the North East Combined Authority Investment Fund via the Education Improvement Programme in 2023/2024 to deliver the programme free of charge to over 50 schools across Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside.

With 3,077 children participating across 850 sessions delivered in school settings, the programme saw children’s understanding of mental health increase by an average of 94%, while their knowledge of practical tools and techniques to manage their mental health and wellbeing rose by 99%.

Following this success, the North East Combined Authority extended its support in 2024/2025 with six-figure funding. This transformative support enabled Mortal Fools to provide MELVA to 100 schools free of charge across the Combined Authority footprint, which comprises County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

​Over 15,000 young people have accessed MELVA in the North East so far. More than 10,000 children have accessed the programme as a direct result of funding from the North East Combined Authority, while sponsorship from private sector organisations has enabled schools across the wider North to access the programme.

A headteacher at a primary school that took part in the North East Combined Authority-funded MELVA programme explained:

​“MELVA has been an amazing resource. The training and support for staff has been great.

​“The online resources are fantastic, and the children engage so well with them. It really supports children to reflect and think about others as well as learning about their own mental health and wellbeing.”

The investment into the MELVA programme is just one way that North East Combined Authority is tackling the specific issues affecting the region’s children, as well as the national mental health crisis currently prevalent among young people across the UK.

The North East Combined Authority’s Education Improvement Programme forms part of its wider Education, Skills and Inclusion portfolio, and reflects its commitment to tackling issues like child poverty - to which poor mental health has been intrinsically linked.

Cllr Tracey Dixon, North East CA portfolio holder for Education, Inclusion and Skills and Leader of South Tyneside Council, said:

"Addressing the rising social, emotional and mental health needs in North East schools is a key priority for our Education Improvement programme.

“Our investment in the MELVA programme provides support which equips students with resilience and coping skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

“MELVA creates an environment that prioritises emotional well-being and fosters a positive and inclusive atmosphere that benefits all students, regardless of their identified social, emotional and mental health needs. The feedback from schools, Trusts and local authority school improvement teams taking part has been very positive.”

Kiz Crosbie, Artistic Director and CEO of Mortal Fools, commented “For some time now, the statutory systems designed to support children with their mental health have been overwhelmed by the growing demand.

“With unbearably long waiting lists, worsening statistics and no solutions in sight, we urgently need new ways to support our children’s mental health. MELVA is our contribution – proven to be effective - and the tremendous support from the North East Combined Authority demonstrates that they also take the crisis seriously and recognise that new approaches are urgently required.

Together we are getting MELVA into the lives of more children than we ever thought possible and I am excited to find ways to replicate this success across the wider North and beyond.”

To learn more about MELVA and see how you can bring the programme to your area, go to https://melva.org.uk or email [email protected]

Melva lesson at Hawthorn Primary School. Photo Credit Von Fox Promotions