Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 – Behind the bandana

Conversations can help keep children’s mental health on track

For Mental Health Awareness Week, Pudsey’s removed his iconic bandana to show that mental health issues are often less visible. We’re proud to be supporting BBC Children in Need’s ‘Behind the Bandana’ campaign which encourages conversations that can help keep a child’s mental health on track.

Through our BBC Children in Need funded project, Building Blocks, we support children and their families with settling into a new environment. Building Blocks helps children living in temporary accommodation to break the cycle of homelessness.

Our work with children and families has a strong emphasis on the mental wellbeing of all children, regardless of how young they are.

For the youngest children we work with e.g. those under 2 years old, this can be as simple as ensuring that we support parents in recognising their children’s cues and meet their basic emotional and physical needs. For our older children, we work closely with the primary schools to ensure their emotional needs are being met whilst at school and during the school holidays spend time talking about feelings and recognising them.

Building Blocks delivers regular play sessions, providing exciting activities and access to a range of resources. We also support children by organising trips and experiences, this year we have been to the theatre, farm and safari park!