Children’s health service wins national award for PSHE

Shropshire Council’s public health team are celebrating national recognition after winning a prestigious award for their work on Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE).

Left to right: Madge Shineton, local Shropshire Councillor for Cleobury Mortimer; Alice Christmas, administration assistant for training and development; Gavin Hogarth Drugs and Alcohol Action Team Partnership officer; Ellie Welch children and young people’s team administrator – public health; Alice Cruttwell, public health curriculum adviser; Richard Parkes, Chief Executive Officer, Shropshire Youth Association; Kathy Evans, Chief Executive, Children England, on behalf of the judging panel; and Anna Williams, ambassador Childline, Mind and Prince’s Trust.

The announcement was made in London on Wednesday night, 22 November 2017 at the ‘Children and Young People Now’ awards 2017. The awards recognise initiatives from the public, private and voluntary sector that work with children and young people from birth to adolescence, as well as their families.

PSHE is a programme of work taught across schools.  The programme aims to give children the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy and independent lives, and to become informed, active and responsible citizens. Relationships and sex education (RSE), emotional health and mental health are taught as part of the PSHE programme, as is drug and alcohol education.

Shropshire PSHE Young Inspectors scheme: the XYZ group, Shropshire Youth Association.

Shropshire Council’s public health team’s submission included testimonials from schools and partner agencies, and evidence of impact from pupils on key areas of safeguarding, emotional and mental health, addressing discrimination and prejudice on LGBTQ issues, and substance use.

This is the first year there has been an award for PSHE. The PSHE Education Award was one of 23 categories being showcased at the ‘Children and Young People Now’ awards. Shropshire’s submission beat seven other contestants to win the PSHE Education Award category. Shortlisted candidates included:

• Bright Futures – Sanctuary: Providing Prevention and Education to young women across Tyne and Wear to keep them safe
• NSPCC Cymru /Wales – Agenda: A Young People’s Guide to Making Positive Relationships Matter
• Pintsize Theatre Ltd – ‘LUVU2’ Theatre in Education on Internet safety and CSE awareness
• Sexpression Sheffield
• Shropshire Council – Public Health PSHE Programme
• Solace Women’s Aid – Hear2Change: Violence Against Women and Girls Prevention Project
• The Children’s Sleep Charity – Sleep Champions
• The Training Effect – Risk-Avert

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, adult social care and housing, said:

“This is fantastic news! And a reflection of the amazing effort, dedication and belief in the programme by our team. They have worked incredibly hard to develop, refine and polish our PSHE Education programme over the years to become an exemplar model across the UK. I am so delighted this was acknowledged last night at the awards.”

Shropshire PSHE Young Inspectors scheme: the XYZ group, Shropshire Youth Association.

Alice Cruttwell, Shropshire Council’s public health curriculum adviser, who oversees the PSHE programme, said:

“This award recognises the excellent work schools in Shropshire are doing. PSHE plays a vital role in keeping our children happy, healthy and safe, and contributes to the council’s strategic priorities related to safeguarding and equalities. The high standard we have achieved in Shropshire is the result of strong partnership working between health, education and the voluntary youth sector.

“I want to thank all the schools, headteachers, governors, teachers and parents who have supported the public health programme over many years. There is a fantastic team of determined and committed teachers who have responsibility for PSHE in schools across the county. I am privileged to support them. We will continue to work together to raise the standard of PSHE for all Shropshire pupils. Our focus and goal is to deliver good quality, evidence-based, pupil-centered lessons.

Nick Bardsley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services and education, added:-

“This is a fantastic achievement for our children and young people’s public health team. The PSHE Education programme plays a vital role in helping pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to help them stay healthy, safe and well and prepare them for life now and in the future. I would like to congratulate and thank everyone involved for their hard work in achieving this prestigious accolade.”

Richard Parkes, Chief Executive Officer, Shropshire Youth Association, said:-

“It is a privilege for the young people our charity supports to be asked to sense check and contribute towards the PHSE programme from the perspective of being a young LGBTQ person growing up in Shropshire.  Alice and her team do a fantastic job and we are always happy to help.”

To date the PSHE programme has reached 30,000 children and young people in Shropshire – three quarters of all those aged five to 16 living in the county. By June 2017 more than 90 per cent of primary schools and all 20 of Shropshire’s state secondary schools were delivering Shropshire’s award-winning RSE curriculum, with others including a consortium of seven Catholic schools continuing to come on board.

Further information

The ‘Children & Young People Now’ Awards have become the gold standard for everyone working with children, young people and families. Now in their twelfth year, these awards provide a great source of pride and recognition for all those who strive day in, day out, to improve the lives of others. They offer an opportunity to raise the profile of projects and initiatives to funders and the general public. And they present a tremendous showcase of learning and best practice from across the country that can be an inspiration to all.