Mental health training for colleges

For many years, the Charlie Waller Trust has offered mental health training for colleges. We have trainers based across the UK, all of whom have many years’ clinical, academic and educational experience which they draw on to deliver high-quality, evidence-based training and advice.

At the Charlie Waller Trust, we support a whole organisation approach for colleges. Our offer provides up to six days of funded support over one year with a dedicated, highly experienced mental health trainer, followed by one additional funded day of follow-up support each year after the partnership ends, with no limit on the number of years. This approach enables us to work collaboratively with leadership teams and staff, developing and building on existing work within the college to create meaningful and sustainable improvements including:

• Policy development: ensuring procedures consistently support wellbeing and mental health.
• Leadership engagement: equipping senior leaders to champion and model positive culture change.
• Staff wellbeing: supporting staff resilience and capacity to lead and teach effectively.
• Pupil voice: embedding mechanisms for students to influence and participate in shaping their environment.
• Parent and carer engagement: working with families to build a better understanding of mental health and wellbeing, strengthen home/college partnerships, and ensure consistent support for young people.

We work in partnership with each college to embed mental health and wellbeing across the wider college community in a way that reflects its unique context, priorities and learner population. Our evidence-based approaches promote wellbeing and enable students to flourish, succeed and develop the strengths and coping skills that underpin resilience and positive mental health.

Our whole organisation approach support is practical, targeted and measurable, focused on delivering meaningful improvements aligned with the college's priorities. By working in a holistic and strategic way, we help create a culture of positive mental health and wellbeing that benefits students, staff and the wider college community.

You can find out more about our whole school and college approach in one of our recent webinars, delivered by mental health trainer Ian MacDonald below.

Once the needs of the college have been discussed, the Trust allocates a dedicated trainer, with whom all collaborative initiatives are planned and agreed. Such input might include, for example:

• A train-the-trainer programme around mental health for key staff in the institution, led by the trainer (or co-facilitated with the institution’s mental health lead, if preferred).
• Direct training for staff and/or students around mental health.
• Charlie Waller training and mental health resources to support institutional initiatives.
• Guidance and support around generic (not student-specific) mental health issues and the development of MH strategy/policy for the institution.

• Our training is aimed at all non-specialist mental health staff including teaching and pastoral staff, librarians, cleaners, technicians, facilities and catering staff, although mental health professionals are always welcome to attend.
• Mental health training is essential for everyone as it encourages people to talk more freely about mental health, reduces stigma and creates a positive culture.
• When inviting attendees to a talk or training session, the event organisers should ensure that the topic is relevant to all the participants and their roles, so that they remain engaged and derive clear benefits from the training.
• Colleges should ensure there is sufficient time and support given to attend the training, have safe conversations and share questions that may arise from a session.