Yup thats right... Stress and Strain of School... is officaly two years old now.... 12/12/07 ...
It really doesn't seem like two years since i set it up as just a project in my school, to improve the schools mental health services, gradually it grew to be a regional campaign to raise awarness of mental health issues, then on 12/08/08 it became a national campaign, and in August 2009, it turned international reaching America and Austraila... :-D

The journey with my project over the past two years has been amazing, hard work, funfilled and very stressfull, but i wouldn't change it for anything. There have been lots of hurdles and set backs but what doesnt kill you only maks you stronger...

Some of my campaign highlights are
*Making a difference and progressing the campaign,
*Working with Raw Tv,
*Being part of Battlefront series 1,
*Being trained to do and teach basic relaxation methods,
*Setting up "Chillaxation",
*Working with Junction49,
*Co-ordinating and training others to do as part of Chilaxation,
*Challenging the Mental Health Act, to include Children and Young People,
*Talkng in the House of Commons and House of Lords,
*Meeting with MP's and discussing my campaign,
*Getting support for the campaign from MP's and members of DCSF,
*Meeting and working with some of the most amazing children and young people,
but most of all, seeing the difference my project has made...

The campaign has been a major journey for me personally too, its amazing to look back and think, a little of two years ago, i was just like any other teenager, working on my studies, full of hopes and dreams, and i was determind to make a difference... as the project progressed, i took on more challenges, focused on what i believed in, at times it was hard, studying, being a teenager and co-ordinating a rapidly expanding campaign, and going on my own personal health rollercoaster, but nothing was going to stop the campaign... and im pleased to say nothing did stop the campaign, it is still going strong, and i am still that same young person trying to make a difference and help others in society.!

So lets look to the future....
Well, the campaign still has alot of children and young people to reach, but i am confident that over the comming years the campaign will make a positive impact on everyone. I hope that over the coming year SSS will impact and change the Mental Health Act, will be included in the schools curriculmn to teach children about mental health issues and will generally continue to grow and make a difference to the lives of all those who have and will learn about the campaign....
You may have noticed i said over the comming years, that is because i am hopfull that in January the campaign will gain funding for 3 years, in which time the campaign will be able to achieved its ultimate goals, and make a difference to everyone.

oh and the new website, which was mean to be launched on 12/12/09 has been delayed due to a technical fault.... but it will be lauched in the very near future.... - thats another highlight actually, learning new transferable skills... hehe...

Happy Holidays everyone and a Very Happy New Year 2010...

Laura-Liz
xxXxx

Since the last blog, way back in May, so much has been going on…. News in brief, very brief, for more info please contact me directly.

Personally –
• I got my exam results in August,
• Got into Roehampton uni! …
• Moved to London,
• Got an internship with the Diana Award,
• Joined a million and one different youth groups,
• Studying Human Rights

Campaign level –
• Posters and workshops have gone international, to America and Australia. :-)
• There are over 100 schools in the UK who know about the campaign through presentations and workshops
• There are 53 active “Chillaxation” groups in the UK
• The campaign is being supported and followed by members of the Department of Children Schools and Families
• I have been asked to run 76 workshops and events before the December holidays,
• There are big plans for a ‘SSS’ conference to celebrate the campaign turning 2 years old!
• I am working with the “World Mental Health foundation” to host a ‘Tea and Talk’ event
• The campaign is a case study / reference source for 5 different Organisations
• New website and New logo are due to be launched on 2nd Birthday (12/12/09)

If you would like more information about campaign, goings on, or would like to arrange ‘Chillaxation’ training, or to request a workshop/presentation, please drop me a line at stressandstrainofschool@yahoo.co.u
 k

Best Wishes.

Laura-Liz

Hi everyone!

I am really sorry for not updating in ages....

There has been a lot going on in my life, which I know is no excuse.... but anyways im back now and get ready for a big ish update!

Like many of you, I have been doing all my final exams the past 2 months… which at times has been manic…
Especially as I sat most of my exams before my sixth form left, so was preparing all the leavers assembly and event stuff, with no study leave as that didn’t start till half term… so since half term I have been off with no exams woop but had my final one last Friday! I wasn’t looking forward to it as it’s (in my opinion) the hardest subject I was doing, the exam was actually a living nightmare…
Despite the fact I have been on study leave since May half term, I have been into school almost everyday volunteering and doing different events, including running several relaxation classes…

Chillaxation – has now gone live…
So far it has started really slowly, with just one school taking it up, but as soon as the exams are over I am going to be going around promoting the campaign and offering Chillaxation to schools…
Oh might help if I actually explain it… Chillaxation is a 12 hour programme, (usually done over 2 days or few weeks) in which we train students/teacher/schools to be able to run their own relaxation programme for students.
Also the campaign team will work with the school and students to help them learn some top tips in how to reduce the stress out of school/exams as well as raise the awareness of mental health issues within schools, through a custom made, carefully structured assembly/workshop…
We can arrange to come to pretty much any school/college in England… Please contact me for details and to arrange the training… stressandstrainofschool@yahoo.co.u
 k

Also recently I have received a letter from Rt Hon Ed Balls – sectary of state for Department of Children, Schools + Families (DCSF), inviting the “Stress and Strain of School” campaign team to meet with DCSF officials in order to ‘influence some of the changes being planned’ in light of the CAMHS independent review (November 2008 ) – which on the team we are immensely excited about!

In other campaign news….
• The campaign is continuing to grow with new supporters, helpers and professionals joining weekly…

• We have recently joined the “Junction 49” campaigning site, which as been amazing, the site is full of helpful staff and members, it has been the kick start the campaign needed!
o Please follow the campaign… http://www.junction49.co.uk/idea/218...


Huge “Thank You” to Katie (Alumni Coordinator, Princess Diana Award) and Sarah (Junction49 help-desker) these two lovelies have been amazing! Not only have they helped to get the campaign back on track, they have provided so much advice and really useful information to keep the campaign running and help it to grow!

There has been loads more going on but don’t want to bore you with details!

Chat soon,

Laura-Liz
xXx