Don’t forget to register for this year’s Now and Beyond Festival, which is taking place on Wednesday 8 February during Children’s Mental Health Week. Now and Beyond is completely free to access and has events for teachers, parents/carers and young people.
Highlights of this year’s programme include a live stream of programmes including celebrity guests such as TV presenter Emma Willis; rapper and mental health activist Shocka and TV’s Dr Ranj. The broadcast programme will be hosted by BAFTA award-winning producer Sallyann Keizer. Sessions include:
I Love Me! 9.00am. I Love Me! is a fun and empowering book of affirmations to help little ones stand tall. Written by Marvyn Harrison (founder of Dope Black Dads) and with art by award winning illustrator Diane Ewen, this upbeat book is perfect for sharing, easy to put into practice, and celebrates the very best in all of us. Join author Marvyn Harrison and his children for this beautiful reading where they will encourage your pupils to join in too!! Perfect for 4-11 year olds.
Are You Man Enough? 11.30am. Tackling toxic masculinity, Beyond youth board member Jeremy Lyons interviews Beyond ambassador and rapper Shocka. Featuring an exclusive screening of Shocka’s music video for his track Stigma produced by 14-25 year olds. This session is crucial listening for any young person, particularly male identifying students aged 13+.
#HalfTheStory lesson plans seek to empower the next generation’s relationship with technology. Now and Beyond’s Resource Hub includes a lesson from #HalfTheStory’s Social Media U programme – an evidence based micro-intervention that helps young people navigate the bridge between emotional wellbeing and digital habits. 16-18 year olds
Registration is also now open for a session focusing specifically on the wellbeing and mental health of teachers and other school staff. It considers both workload pressures and issues relating to the challenges of supporting young people with mental health and wellbeing concerns. Last year, a similar session attracted over 600 attendees. The session will be facilitated by Now and Beyond’s Education Insider and teacher Alice Moore, who will pose pre-submitted questions to Monisha Jefcut, the training manager for the schools team at the Anna Freud Centre. Monisha worked as a teacher for 30 years and was a member of a leadership team that specialised in behaviour and safeguarding.
You can register for the Now and Beyond festival here.
Register for the session focusing on teachers’ wellbeing and workload here.
