The importance of Education

Students spend 190 days per year in school, this is more than days they spend out of of school. When students get home, they don’t want to sit and do homework or research – they want to rest, go out with friends, spend time with family, sleep. When it comes to learning and spreading awareness, it is clear that the place to do this is at school; a place where they feel safe, comfortable, and spend most of their adolescence.

If we want to reduce the stigma and stereotypes around mens mental health, we need to educate young lads that it is okay to talk, it is normal to struggle, and that they aren’t alone. That is where we step in…

A complete and inclusive programme

It isn’t just the young people we need to educate, it is also those responsible for their care. We offer a complete program that offers educational, informative workshops to not only young lads but also teachers and parents. All based on lived experience, our facilitators talk from first-hand experience, share the stories of other young men, and offer a form of learning on topics that PSHE and school staff aren’t trained to talk about.

What’s included in our packages

SPARATHON 2024

Mental Health for Boys

We offer a bespoke workshop for male students demonstrating challenging behaviours, who are at-risk of suspension or exclusion, or are at-risk of struggling with poor mental wellbeing. Our facilitators build on their lived experience and experiences of others to deliver an engaging, interactive, educational workshop which discusses key topics like: what is mental health, the benefits of exercise, self-harm, suicide, and how to start the conversation.

SPARATHON 2024

Mental Health for Teachers

We offer an incredible session for teachers who are on the frontline when it comes to student support, delivered by young people and students themselves, our sessions educate teachers on what actually works for young men. It can be difficult to notice the signs and support individuals when you have over 100 students to manage – but, it is teachers who are most likely to have those conversations and get the right support in place, its “too late”.

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Managing Challenging Behaviour for Parents

Similar to our teacher workshops, we offer crucial sessions for parents struggling to manage challenging behaviour, disengagement in education, or mental health. It can be difficult to support your own child, no matter what experience you may have, and it can be even harder to understand their brain and ways of thinking. Our sessions are delivered by young people with lived experience and discusses the different ways you can try to manage your child’s struggles – including reasonable adjustments you can make at home.

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Muay Thai After School Sessions

As an organisation, we massively push on the benefits of physical activity and exercise – as well as the benefits of martial arts. As part of our school workshops, we offer Muay Thai taster sessions, and its safe to say the students LOVE them. Our expert coaches, with years of coaching experience, offer after-school sessions for students wanting to try “The Art of 8 Limbs”…

These sessions cover the fundamentals of Muay Thai, such as footwork, drills, and sparring – as well as conversations around nutrition, the importance of sleep, and how to look after your body.

Schools We Work With

How We’ve Helped

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Our Testimonials

Excellent opportunity for our boys to openly talk about mental health and understand the links between mental and physical health.
Deborah Menear, North Durham Academy

I’ve never been approached by students following a session to request them to return, but the students are desperate for another session.

Emma Charlton, Whickham Secondary School
The students benefited from knowing about why The Mental Shift was created, allowing them to relate with Kai and respect what he has achieved. Giving them the motivation to achieve their full potential.
Claire Matthews, Stevenage ESC

In one of the sessions, Kai talked about suicide. This is something close to my heart and to hear about it from someone who has also experienced it made me feel like I was not alone.

Student, North Durham Academy

Enquire About Our Services Today