This weeks focus is still around Mental Health Support. If you have any concerns or would like further support please contact hr@excelsiormat.org
National Children's Gardening Week 28th May - 6th June
National Children’s Gardening Week celebrates the fun that gardens hold for kids. Children, parents, grandparents, schools or garden businesses can find ideas for fun garden projects and activities on this site.
Children love growing plants, love being in the garden but they’re often impatient, wanting to see instant results. National Children’s Gardening Week aims to capture children’s enthusiasm at a time when results are immediate. National Children’s Gardening Week takes place annually in the ‘warm’ week at the end of May.
This means that pretty much throughout the UK they can plant all the popular plants with little fear of weather damage or the need for complicated protective growing.
National Children’s Gardening Week was the brainwave of Neil Grant, Managing director of Ferndale Garden Centre near Sheffield who is also BBC Radio Sheffield’s garden expert and co-presenter of their weekly garden phone in, and it’s widely supported by the whole of the UK garden industry.
It’s now an annual festival of fun that’s embraced in homes, schools, and community groups across the country, and supports the amazing Greenfingers charity, which is dedicated to providing magical gardens for children in hospices suffering from life limiting illnesses.
To get involved, just have a look at the ‘Things to do’ section of the site by clicking the box below.
The aim of NCGW is to get as many schools, children and their families involved, gardening and having fun in their gardens. 2018 was the first year that the HTA took the project on and it turned out to be very successful. The campaign put gardening project ideas in front of half a million of consumers through the website, social media and in- store.
Don’t forget you can Download the Eurovision Scheme of Work PDF here: Eurovision scheme of work final (1)Download
Excelwell
Symptoms of Depression
What are the symptoms of depression?
There are many signs and symptoms of depression, and everyone’s experience will vary. This page covers:
How might depression affect my day-to-day life?
If you have depression, you might find that it interferes with different aspects of your life. For example, it might affect your ability to work, your relationships, or managing your finances. This can add extra stress to an already difficult experience.
It may also feel hard to explain your thoughts and feelings to others. You might want to cut yourself off from other people instead. This could lead to you feeling isolated and lonely.
If depression is having an impact on your daily life, help is available. See our pages on treatment and support for more information. Our pages on getting support at work and organising your finances may also help.
Common signs and symptoms of depression
These are some common signs of depression that you may experience”
How you might feel
- Down, upset or tearful
- Restless, agitated or irritable
- Guilty, worthless and down on yourself
- Empty and numb
- Isolated and unable to relate to other people
- Finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy
- Angry or frustrated over minor things
- A sense of unreality
- No self-confidence or self-esteem
- Hopeless and despairing
- Feeling tired all the time
- Avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy
- Self-harming or suicidal behaviour
- Difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions
- Losing interest in sex
- Difficulty remembering or concentrating on things
- Using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual
- Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
- No appetite and losing weight, or eating more than usual and gaining weight
- Physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause
- Moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated
Inclusion and Diversity within your school
We recognise the immense value of fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace culture. Our commitment to equality goes beyond academic achievements; it encompasses creating a safe, supportive, and vibrant learning community for all. Our aim is for Diversity and Inclusion to be embedded within our workplace culture as the norm. In this article, we will explore the importance of cultivating an inclusive and diverse workplace culture within our trust and provide practical strategies for achieving this vision within your schools.
The Connection Between Mental Health and Physical Health
A growing body of research makes it clear that mental health and physical health are deeply connected, with studies showing that an improvement or decline in one can lead to an improvement or decline in the other.1 But how exactly does one influence the other? What exactly is happening in the body to allow changes in one to change the other?
When Is the Best Time to Take Vitamins?
The time you take your vitamins can sometimes determine their efficacy. While some vitamins work best when you take them first thing in the morning, others work better when you take them with a meal or just before bedtime.
Most vitamins fall into two categories: water-soluble or fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins are most effective when you take them with water on an empty stomach. For fat-soluble vitamins, it’s best to take them with a meal because your body can absorb them better.
Best 10 Podcasts for Depression
Are you looking for a depression podcast that can offer self-help tips, encouragement, and insights? Perhaps you’re looking to listen to expert interviews, want to hear first-person stories, or just want someone to talk about depression with a light-hearted tone. Whatever it is that you are looking for in a depression podcast, chances are there is one out there to fulfil your needs.
Podcasts about depression also cover a range of topics across episodes, from perfectionism to medication to dealing with postpartum blues. Depression podcasts are far from uni-dimensional, and many bring on guest experts to expand the breadth of material that can be covered. After all, no single podcast host can be an expert in all areas.
Recommended Support Book: Panicking About Panic
This book is particularly tailored for people who can associate with the conditions of:
– Anxiety
– Anxiety Disorder
– Generalised Anxiety
– Panic Disorder
– Agoraphobia
– Health Anxiety
– Panicking for no reason
– Panic Attacks (and anxiety about them happening again)
Anxiety Panicking about Panic is a revolutionary, self-help book for people who suffer from the various symptoms of anxiety. The book is tailored for people who are: experiencing panic attacks, feeling abnormally anxious, ruminating about health, anticipating further panic attacks and questioning why anxiety is present in the first place. Anxiety Panicking about Panic provides quick, easy to access advice and practical strategies, which aim to educate the reader to simplify their world of anxiety in order to successfully tackle it.
Awareness Days: JUNE - Pride Month
Sunday 5th June is the country’s biggest ever thank you party.
The aim is for as many people as possible to be involved, however they would like, so everyone who deserves it gets a thank you – and the whole of the UK gets together.
Thursday 1st June International Children’s Day
12th to 18th June Men’s Health Week
26th – 30th June World Wellbeing Week
July
Tuesday 25th July National Schizophrenia
Saturday 30th July World Friendship Day
August Nothing!
September Sunday 10th September World Suicide Prevention Day
Resourceful Thinking Masterclass
If you would like the link to the last Resourceful Thinking Master class please email hr@excelsiormat.org
CPD
See whats happening on the National College website. This week is around Gardening Activities.
Plus take a look at the CPD resources on our own website. We are adding to it all the time! Check it out here https://cpd.excelsiormat.org/
Current Vacancies
Staff Hub
In the Staff Hub you can find regular articles created with you in mind! Along with useful information and links to your most used sites.
