As always, wellbeing has been a prominent focus in the college over the course of the academic year. This article summarises the holistic approach we take to supporting the wellbeing of our staff and learners.  

Recently, our work on mental health was recognised as we were awarded the Bronze Healthy Schools Award at an event in Stratford. We are now looking to push ahead with both the Silver and Gold Awards next academic year. You can read more about this amazing achievement, spearheaded by year 12 learners, in our newsletter. 

We have continued to provide a space of respite, prayer and comfort in our multi faith chaplaincy. Our Chaplaincy is a partnership between The Centre of Theology and Community, Chelmsford Diocese and LDE UTC. LDE UTC is college proud of its vibrancy and diverse multicultural community. It also recognises the importance that faith, belief and spirituality plays in the lives of the learners and staff at the college. The Chaplaincy environment is a setting that allows us to engage in questions of science, technology and ethics. We are the only UTC with a chaplaincy team placing unique emphasis not only on progression and innovation but also on pastoral care. 

Our College Counsellor, Nirupa, and our Educational Mental Health Practitioner, Aminata, have been kept busy offering focused support for our learners. There is a clear need for this support and we are pleased to be able to continue providing this service at a time of real budget cuts in the education sector.  

We also often work with outside agencies; some highlights this year have included working with organisations such as She Wise where sixteen female learners took part in weekly workshops that proved so successful that we had others wanting to join. We have also worked with other wellbeing orientated organisations such as Fight for Peace, Let Me Know, SHINE Change Grow Live, and Kooth – focusing on physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. 

More recently, our pastoral staff received training from The Exit Foundation, and we will be sharing that learning with our new Year 9s as part of one of their Employer Engagement projects and with staff in our September safeguarding update.  

Our monthly wellbeing newsletters have focused on a wide range of topics over the course of the academic year. Our latest newsletter can be found here. In weekly Learning for Life sessions, our learners have discussed topics as diverse as the problem with vaping, the importance of healthy eating and both the London Mayoral elections and the recent General Election. To find out more about learning for life provision: Learning for life 2023/2024 (padlet.org). 

Finally, for our staff we have appointed Sharian and Sonya to share the role of Wellbeing Lead, and they have recently undertaken training in order to make a difference going forwards regarding our staff wellbeing.  
We offer a holistic approach to the wellbeing of our learners and staff to ensure that a range of systems are in place to support our college community.  

We offer a holistic approach to the wellbeing of our learners and staff to ensure that a range of systems are in place to support our college community.