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Empowering Young Voices: Invicta Grammar School Ambassadors Lead the Way in Mental Health Advocacy

At Therapy Partners, we’re proud to support Rewrite Your Story (RWYS) in delivering meaningful, student-led mental health projects across Kent. One of the standout initiatives this year has been the Mental Health and Neurodiversity Ambassadors Programme at Invicta Grammar School in Maidstone—a shining example of how youth empowerment can drive real change.

The programme culminated in an exciting livestream event with Maidstone Borough Council (MBC), where students presented their ideas for improving mental health provision across the borough and participated in a formal council session. Their presentation, professionalism, and courage were met with enthusiasm, and the Mayor even expressed support for expanding funding and replicating the ambassador model in more schools.

 

🗣️ What the Students Had to Say

Feedback from the student ambassadors following the event was overwhelmingly positive:

🧑‍🎓 “It felt professional, and our voices were truly heard and appreciated. I improved my public speaking skills and felt we took a real step towards destigmatising mental health.” — Student A

🎙️ “The councillors were very receptive. The Mayor agreed to explore more funding and rolling the scheme out to other schools!” — Student B

💬 “We faced unexpected questions but handled them well. This helped me build confidence and see how councils operate.” — Student C

🌟 “I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. Everyone listened with interest and it felt like we had the potential to make a difference.” — Student D

🤝 “The networking after the session was a great opportunity to talk more informally with councillors and understand their perspectives.” — Student E

These testimonials underline the confidence, skills, and advocacy experience the students gained through the programme.

 

🎬 Creative Outreach: Talking About Anxiety

As part of the project, students also created a series of anxiety-awareness videos, exploring techniques like:

  • Box Breathing: A calm, rhythmic breathing pattern to manage stress
  • The 3-3-3 Technique: A simple grounding exercise to combat overwhelm

These peer-to-peer resources have been praised for being relatable, engaging, and accessible—especially for neurodiverse students.

📺 You can view their videos here:

 

 

 

💡 Want to Start a Project Like This at Your School?

If you're a school, college, or educational trust looking to empower students with the tools to promote well-being, inclusivity, and advocacy, we’d love to hear from you.

We offer:

  • Ambassador programme delivery and training
  • In-school and online workshops on mental health and neurodiversity
  • Therapy dog visits with Donna (counsellor) and Nigel the Wellbeing Dog 🐾
  • Ongoing professional oversight by our team of qualified clinicians

📞 Contact us today via Rewrite Your Story or Therapy Partners to discuss a bespoke programme for your school.

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