Swansea teenagers are Wellbeing Warriors

Teenagers in Swansea have become Wellbeing Warriors to deliver a series of events covering everything from gaming addiction to GPs surgeries.

The sessions at Pentrehafod School were developed following a focus group with healthcare professionals and pupils designed to gauge their priorities when it came to specific health and well-being issues affecting them.

The two events were then held to allow students to make positive decisions around their health and well-being.

Main photo above: Jon Bevis of advice service Info Nation talks to students at Pentrehafod School

Year 9 pupils who took part in the focus groups became known as Wellbeing Warriors to support the workshops which were designed to be interactive and enjoyable as well as informative.

The events saw Dr Ruth Dare of the Cwmfelin Medical Centre deliver a ‘Know Your GP’ workshop aimed at providing an understanding of how GP Surgeries work and demonstrating that GPs are approachable with a focus on patient confidentiality.

Jon Bevis and Sarah James of advice and support services Info Nation and Barod held workshops around gaming and positive digital health, and substance misuse. 

Students also met with members of the Penderi Cluster which includes Brynhyfryd Surgery, Cheriton Medical Centre, Cwmfelin Medical Centre, Fforestfach Medical Group and Manselton Surgery.

Event organiser and Penderi Cluster development manager Kath Morgan said: “In the near future we intend to develop this further with the school and provide young person’s health advocacy training for the pupils.  

“Our work with schools doesn’t end here.

“We are forging links with local primary schools to determine how the cluster can work with local schools to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people across the cluster area.”

Pentrehafod School year nine student Erin took part in the wellbeing workshops and said: “In my opinion, I thought that the lessons we had were very effective.

“They got the pupils engaged and very shocked by some of the facts and statistics.

“They helped everyone know where they can go to confidentially talk to someone if they didn’t want to tell a friend or family member.

“Also, Ruth informed everyone about what a GP does, how to contact a GP and many other things they can do.”

Mrs Dawn Howells, area leader for skills citizenship and wellbeing at Pentrehafod School, said: “The workshops organised by the Penderi Cluster were fantastic and it was wonderful to see all of the students interacting and asking sensible and meaningful questions.

“The guest speakers created a relaxed atmosphere where the students felt safe to answer questions in a non-judgemental setting.

“I speak for all the staff at Pentrehafod when I say that we are very lucky to be working with a group of enthusiastic professionals that are passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of our students.

“We hope that this will continue to be a successful partnership.”