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Leighton Park
Leighton Park School is a prestigious, co-educational day and boarding school in Reading, Berkshire, England, for students aged 11–18. Founded on Quaker values, it is highly regarded for its holistic approach, offering GCSEs, A-Levels, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
Engaging older students in the youHQ programme and fostering a genuine culture of care, kindness, and support across the whole school. Staff had identified rising mental health struggles among senior students, including anxiety and depression. The school needed a way to empower students as part of the solution, not just as recipients of support, while providing meaningful recognition for those stepping up.
youHQ delivered our First Aid for Mental Health Awareness course: a half day, in person training session designed specifically for nominated 'Wellbeing Champions'. The course gives students an official, accredited qualification (recognised by NCFE/Ofqual) that they can carry with them beyond school, equipping them with practical skills to recognise signs of mental ill health, offer initial support, and guide peers toward appropriate help. Delivered alongside the youHQ platform, the training provided Champions with real context (drawing on anonymised mood tracker trends) so they could understand the challenges their peers were actually facing.
Wellbeing Champions now actively support the school's wellbeing lead and tutor teams as positive mentors, offering an approachable, peer led alternative for students who may not feel comfortable speaking to an adult. The programme has created visible wellbeing advocates across year groups, normalising conversations around mental health and reducing the stigma that previously prevented students from seeking help. Staff report that the Champions act as an early warning system, flagging concerns before they escalate, while students describe feeling genuinely supported by people who "get it." The accreditation has also boosted engagement among older students who previously saw wellbeing initiatives as "not for them," giving them ownership, purpose, and a qualification that strengthens UCAS applications and CVs alike.
It really helps you appreciate yours and others’ wellbeing.We learnt about how to help people with their emotions and how we can help them get through some of the struggles that they’re having. If they were feeling down or had an argument with their friends, we’re now here to help them feel safe and so they have someone extra to talk to.
