Cornwall Schools’ Wellbeing Hub Newsletter 11th December 2025
Thursday 11th December 2025
Welcome to the Wellbeing Newsletter
There’s really only one thing to include in the newsletter this week. We wish everyone a safe, stress-free and fun end to term. And, above all, we wish you a peaceful, restful and restorative break.
Staff wellbeing is the most important element of school life. Wellbeing, belonging, inclusion, academic success – whatever measure you choose…
Please put your wellbeing front and centre.
Education Support
08000 562 561
What’s on the website?
Headstart Kernow – The Lemonade Project
The Lemonade Project is all about building resilience in young people who are experiencing low levels of emotional wellbeing. Based on the Boingboing Resilience Framework, it offers practical tools and resources to help children and young people navigate life’s challenges.
Don’t forget you can now access this and previous newsletters on the website
Training & Events
FULLY FUNDED BY HEADSTART KERNOW
SPACE (Supporting Parents and Children Emotionally) Combined 3-day Facilitator
Training for Professionals
Become a SPACE facilitator with fully funded 3-day training by Headstart Kernow. Support families through trauma-informed, relationship-based practice. Explore course details and how to apply here.
27th -29th of January 2026
Please email us at SPACE@Cornwall.gov.uk to express your interest.
Have you joined the Headstart Kernow Creative Education membership yet?
Sign up here: www.headstartkernow.org.uk/creative-education/
Download our updated Creative Education membership information fliers with access links for:
Stay in touch: Check out our training and other support and sign up for the occasional newsletter.
And follow us on our page on the Services for Schools platform.
News and Resources
Improving Access to Youth Volunteering in Cornwall – Volunteer Cornwall and Cornwall Youth Council
Volunteer Cornwall and Cornwall Youth Council are working together to make youth volunteering opportunities easier to find across the county.
A recent survey of young people led by Youth Council showed that many are unclear about where to look for volunteering roles. In response, we are encouraging more organisations to register with Volunteer Cornwall’s opportunities page - to make this an accessible platform for young people to search for suitable opportunities.
The platform is free to use and now includes an age filter to help young people quickly identify relevant roles. When uploading opportunities, organisations can select the appropriate age range.
Our ask to organisations
We are asking not-for-profit organisations to register and upload their opportunities. Increasing the number of listings will help ensure more young people have equal access to information and meaningful volunteering experiences.
Register Here: https://opportunities.volunteercornwall.org.uk/organisation/register
Caring Connections – Building Your Capacity to Care Pooky Knightsmith
Educator and mental health expert Pooky Knightsmith explores the reality of compassion fatigue in teaching and offers practical ways to protect your wellbeing. This session highlights how caring relationships with colleagues can be protective, how to recognise stress signals before they become overwhelming, and how to use quick self‑regulation strategies. It also shows the power of empathy, micro‑moments of connection, and brief reflective practice to sustain yourself. The resources include reflection questions and a strong evidence base, reminding us that caring for ourselves is essential to caring for students.
Reading Feelings – University of Sussex Research Empathy Lab
At the heart of the Raising Generation Empathy Conference was groundbreaking psychology research from the University of Sussex. The Reading Feelings project, backed by UKRI, is the first longitudinal study in UK primary schools to explore the link between reading and empathy. The findings show that when children read with an empathy focus combining stories with creative immersion and discussion both empathy and reading ability improve together. This evidence offers a powerful response to declining reading for pleasure, highlighting how empathy education can boost engagement and literacy at the same time.
ELSA - Christmas & Winter Wellbeing Resources
With December approaching, we’ve created a special set of festive ELSA resources to support wellbeing. From calming wordsearches and mindful colouring packs to games, crafts, and kindness challenges, there’s something for every classroom or group. You’ll also find practical tools like our new black lanyard with added safety features. These activities are designed to bring calm, connection, and creativity during the busy winter season — helping children feel supported, engaged, and uplifted.
Calming Christmas resources
Be Happy Resources offer a free week wellbeing activity to anyone signed up to their mailing list
Their calming Advent Calendar with 25 brand-new daily calming actions you can enjoy with your children in under five minutes - all with a fun and festive twist!
Beacon House share a wide range of resources. They have a number of Winter / Christmas resources some suitable for wellbeing practitioner and 1:1 work others to support regulation, connection and rest during December for all during this busy time.
Have you visited our new www.headstartkernow.org.uk website yet?
We made it simpler to find what you need as professionals supporting children and families need as well adding a new, more prominent area for parents and carers.
Have a look and let us know what you think!
Stay in touch: Check out our training and other support at www.headstartkernow.org.uk and sign up for the occasional newsletter.
And follow us on our page on the Services for Schools platform.