Thorns Collegiate Academy in Brierley Hill hosted visitors from the Fusion Project during Mental Health Awareness Week, highlighting local mental health and wellbeing support available to young people across the Dudley area.
The session formed part of the Academy’s awareness activity aimed at informing students about external services and routes to support. Staff from The Fusion Project delivered information to students on the range of confidential support available and how to access it.
The Fusion Project, run by The What? Centre, provides free, confidential mental health and wellbeing support for young people aged 13 to 18. Services include one-to-one counselling, family support, online support, youth advocacy and group-based provision, including weekly peer support sessions. It also offers tailored support for young people from ethnically diverse backgrounds and those who identify as LGBTQ+ or are questioning their identity.
School Principal, Nikki Jones, said: “Access to timely mental health and wellbeing support is fundamental to students thriving both academically and personally. At Thorns, we aim to create a safe and supportive environment where students feel able to talk openly about what they need in order to succeed, with a positive impact on their confidence, relationships and learning.
“We also have a responsibility to ensure young people know where to turn for support and feel confident doing so. Collaborations with organisations like the Fusion Project strengthen that wider safety net beyond the classroom and help to normalise conversations around mental health, inclusion and wellbeing.”
The visit formed part of wider efforts to encourage early engagement with mental health services and increase awareness of support networks beyond the school environment. Initiatives like this reflect the Academy’s shortlisting for the Tes Schools Awards ‘Pupil Mental Health Initiative of the Year’, which celebrates inspiring teachers and schools across the UK’s state and independent sectors.
