McIlveen welcomes further £5million Education Wellbeing funding
Date published:
Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced a further £5million for the Education Wellbeing funding allocation.
Through this fund education settings will be given flexibility in how they support the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people and the staff working with them.
Michelle McIlveen set out details of the funding during a visit to Belfast Boys’ Model School.
The Minister said: “There is a growing body of evidence, which highlights that the adolescence and young adult years are peak periods for the first onset of mental illness. And the experience of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this situation.
“That is why I’m providing further funding in response to the additional mental health and wellbeing needs of children and young people and education staff. It will give them the flexibility to provide additional support that will best meet their needs.
“This assistance will be provided to all schools, EOTAS and youth settings and they will be provided with guidance on how the funding can be used. This will enable education settings to enhance existing wellbeing programmes and/or implement new and innovative wellbeing initiatives that support pupils and/or staff and have a focus on adjusting to the world as impacted upon by COVID 19.”
The Department stepped in last year to provide a Wellbeing Fund and given the ongoing nature of the impact of COVID-19, the fund is being extended to 2021/22.
The Minister continued: “This is a significant investment which I know will be of benefit to pupils and staff alike. The funding can be used to provide various types of interventions including stress busting activities, emotional support, sports activities & equipment, wellbeing games and books & materials.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people, and many school staff and their pupils are facing higher levels of anxiety and distress. Championing Emotional Health and Well-being was also raised as an ongoing priority within the Fair Start report. That is why I am providing as much support as possible, in the challenging months ahead.”
Notes to editors:
- Schools will be provided with a guidance document that provides an overview of the pilot.
- The funding allocations will be differentiated based on the size of the setting.
- Follow us on Twitter @Education_ni(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office at Press.Office@education-ni.gov.uk.
- The Executive Information Service operates an out-of-hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.