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Making Every Contact Count is an approach that uses the millions of day to day interactions that organisations and individuals have with people to support them in making positive changes to their physical and mental health and wellbeing. Rather than telling people what to do Making Every Contact Count is about recognising opportunities to talk to people about their wellbeing using the skills of asking and listening. Making Every Contact Count is not intended to add to busy workloads. The course signposts to appropriate VSCE organisations and their available training

Overweight children are more likely to have poorer mental and emotional health, with many experiencing teasing and bullying linked to their weight. They may have low self-esteem, be socially isolated and regularly take days off school, resulting in poor attendance. They are also more likely to become obese adults with a higher risk of chronic ill health, disability and premature mortality. As part of a holistic approach to a child’s health and wellbeing, professionals & practitioners in health, education and social care have a responsibility to help families recognise and acknowledge the importance of a healthy weight. Like many sensitive subjects, it is often the way in which the issue is talked about rather than the issue itself that causes problems for both practitioner and family. The stigma attached to obesity makes it harder for practitioners and families to talk openly and constructively about it. This course aims to build confidence in raising the issue of weight with families. A brief and appropriate conversation can be an important first step towards positive wellbeing.

This 2-day course is suitable for those working with complex people or situations. It aims to develop skills and confidence in order to help children and young people around self-harm and suicide prevention.

This is an introductory course for people working with children and young people. It aims to increase knowledge and understanding of mental health and emotional wellbeing, mental health problems, how to respond to emotional distress, and promoting resilience in all young people.

safeTALK is a half-day training in suicide alertness. It helps participants recognise a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources who can help them in choosing to live. Participants don’t need any formal preparation to attend the training—anyone age 15 or older who wants to make a difference can learn the safeTALK steps. Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t want to die—instead, they are looking for a way to work
through the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they usually invite others to help them in making a choice for life. safeTALK teaches participants to recognise these invitations, engage with the person with thoughts of suicide, and connect them with resources to help them be safer from suicide.

Overweight children are more likely to have poorer mental and emotional health, with many experiencing teasing and bullying linked to their weight. They may have low self-esteem, be socially isolated and regularly take days off school, resulting in poor attendance. They are also more likely to become obese adults with a higher risk of chronic ill health, disability and premature mortality. As part of a holistic approach to a child’s health and wellbeing, professionals & practitioners in health, education and social care have a responsibility to help families recognise and acknowledge the importance of a healthy weight. Like many sensitive subjects, it is often the way in which the issue is talked about rather than the issue itself that causes problems for both practitioner and family. The stigma attached to obesity makes it harder for practitioners and families to talk openly and constructively about it. This course aims to build confidence in raising the issue of weight with families. A brief and appropriate conversation can be an important first step towards positive wellbeing.

This 2-day course is suitable for those working with complex people or situations. It aims to develop skills and confidence in order to help children and young people around self-harm and suicide prevention.

Youth Mental Health First Aid will teach you the skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues in a young person, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need. In doing so, you can speed up a young person’s recovery and stop a mental health issue from getting worse. Our courses won't teach you to be a therapist - but just like physical first aid, we will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis.

This free course has been developed by the Royal Society of Public Health and aimsto increase the confidence and skills of frontline staff to be effective in having conversations about mental health and wellbeing. It draws on CBT skills and the 5 Ways to Wellbeing in order to help people manage emotional distress and increase their resilience and mental wellbeing through positive changes. It is an incremental three-session programme – Session 1 is a half day, Sessions 2 and 3 are full days.

Applied Suicide Prevention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two day course that prepares caregivers including those in professional roles to provide suicide life-assisting, first aid intervention. ASIST teaches Pathways for Assisting Life (PAL), which is a practical guide to undertaking suicide interventions. The training will enable participants to develop confidence and skills through observation and supervised simulation (role play and skills practice) in small groups. During the course you will have an opportunity to explore personal or professional experiences of suicide and space and support to focus on how your experiences with suicide impact on your beliefs and attitudes about using suicide first aid. It is anticipated that everyone taking part in the course will do so with the intention of becoming a registered ASIST Caregiver.