Wellbeing

Looking After Myself

Most teenagers will experience emotional ups and downs at some point whilst they are at secondary school. At Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, we believe that wellbeing is the foundation for success, both in and out of the classroom. We are committed to creating a supportive environment where every student feels valued, heard, and empowered to take care of their mental and emotional health.

Whether you are looking for self-care tips, mental health resources, or details about the support services available at school, this page is here to help.

Remember, no matter what you’re going through, you’re not alone – support is always available.

In School

Talk to someone, a wellbeing ambassador, an anti-bullying ambassador, a teacher, form tutor, senior tutor/assistant senior tutor
You can ask your Assistant Senior Tutor or Senior Tutor for a referral to one of the counsellors employed by the school.
The safeguarding team at AGGS are Mr Flanagan (Lead Senior Tutor) , Ms Bond (Vice Principal), Mrs Galvin (Head of Sixth Form).

If you are in Main School, do not forget that you can also talk to your Senior Tutor or Assistant Senior Tutor about something you are worried about. Come to see one of us at the Senior Tutor Office.

Parents – please phone 0161 686 3011 or email admin@aggs.bright-futures.co.uk and ask for an appointment to speak to your daughter’s Senior Tutor or Assistant Senior Tutor.

If you are in the Sixth Form you can always talk to Mrs Egan or Mrs Quigley in the Sixth form Office, your form tutor, Senior Tutor or Mrs Galvin.

Sixth Form parents please phone the Sixth Form Centre or email sixthformadmin@aggs.bright-futures.co.uk and ask to speak with the Senior Tutor or Mrs Galvin, or to make an appointment to come into the Sixth Form to meet with a member of staff.

At Home

Achieve a balance between school work and hobbies and things you enjoy doing, sports, music, art etc.
Don’t take mobile devices to your bedroom when you are going to sleep.
Try to eat well, keep hydrated.
Sleep well, try and maintain regular sleeping habits.
Talk to your parents/carers.
Talk to your friends.

Points of Contact in School

Year Group	Senior Tutor	Assistant Senior Tutor
Year 7	Mrs Clutton	Mr Thompson
Year 8	Mrs Benson	Ms Demeur
Year 9	Mr Wilkinson	Mrs Shaughnessy
Year 10	Miss Kirby	Miss Hulme / Miss Wells
Year 11	Miss Lloyd	Mr Carr
Year 12	Mrs Langridge	–
Year 13	Mrs Hickman	–

Additional Points of Contact

Vice Principal – Safeguarding and Behaviour	Ms Bond
Pastoral Assistant	Miss Kiernan-Helme
Head of Sixth Form	Mrs Galvin
Sixth Form Office	Mrs Quigley, Ms Egan
Higher Education Co-ordinator	Mrs Bell Walker
SENDCo	Mrs Marler
Lead Senior Tutor – Anti-bullying / Wellbeing	Mr Flanagan

We have also put together a list of websites that offer advice and information, which you might find helpful;

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Mental Health includes everyone’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.

We all have mental health, just as we have physical health. We have to look after our mind like we do our body… The term ‘mental wellbeing’ doesn’t have one set meaning. We might use it to talk about how we feel, how well we’re coping with daily life or what feels possible at the moment. Good mental wellbeing doesn’t mean that you’re always happy. Or that you’re unaffected by your experiences and having good wellbeing doesn’t always mean that you don’t have a mental health problem. You may live with a mental health problem, but have good wellbeing right now. Or you might not have a mental health problem, but be struggling with your wellbeing at the moment. Poor mental wellbeing can make it more difficult to cope with daily life so it is important to talk about how you are feeling if you or someone you know is struggling.

The Mental Health Foundation provides advice on how you look after your own mental health or support someone you know who may be struggling with their mental health.
www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Samaritans are available, day or night, for anyone who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure. They give people advice on ways to cope and teach skills to inform those who may be struggling.
Samaritans: 08457 90 90 90

Mind is a safe space for you to talk about your mental health. Their advisors are trained to listen to you and help you find specialist support if you need it. Mind are open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).
Mind helpline: 0300 123 3393

YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.
You can find more information about the services they offer on their website –
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

42nd Street provide support with your emotional well-being and mental health by offering a choice of effective, creative, young person-centred approaches. http://42ndstreet.org.uk To receive weekly support from one of their workers, simply register at onlinesupport.42ndstreet.org.uk.

Kooth is a free, safe, anonymous online emotional wellbeing community that is accessible 24/7, 365 days of the year.
Kooth provides access to chat sessions with BACP-accredited counsellors and qualified emotional wellbeing practitioners.
http://kooth.com

Shout is the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope. As a digital service, Shout became vital during Covid-19, as one of the few mental health services able to operate as normal at this time. We have seen the need for our support remain high through the UK’s cost of living crisis. https://giveusashout.org/

PAPYRUS is dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. Their helpline, HOPELINE247 is a free and confidential call, text and email service, which is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact HOPELINE247 for confidential support and practical advice. Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org | Call: 0800 068 4141 | Text: 88247 | https://www.papyrus-uk.org/

Childline – Online, On the phone, Anytime
www.childline.org.uk
0800 1111

The UK Children’s Charity
www.nspcc.org.uk
0808 800 500

The Mix are able to help you take on any challenge you’re facing – from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. You can talk to them via their online community, on social media or via their counselling service – 0808 808 4994
www.themix.org.uk

Drugs and Alcohol

Early Break offers accurate, unbiased information on all aspects of drug and alcohol use, advocacy, emotional health and wellbeing support for children, young people and families. You can find more information on their website –
www.earlybreak.co.uk

Find out everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law.
Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol today.
Talk to Frank – 0300 123 6600 / www.talktofrank.com

Eating Disorders

Beat provides helplines offering support and information about eating disorders no matter where you are in your journey. Beat are able to support people who have or are worried they have an eating disorder, as well as others affected, such as friends and family members. https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk phone 0808 801 0677 or email help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Sexual Health & Wellbeing

Advice on sexual health & wellbeing for young people under the age of 25
You can find out more on their website –
www.brook.org.uk

LGBT+ Support

The Proud Trust is an LGBT+ youth charity empowering LGBT+ young people to be proud of who they are. They are a local charity who deliver youth work and one-to-one support across Greater Manchester. The Proud Trust’s website provides information and support for LGBT+ young people covering a range of different things such as coming out, faith and religion, and staying safe. www.theproudtrust.org/young-people/

Trafford Youth Engagement Service – Talkshop

Trafford Youth Engagement Service – Talkshop is a specialist advice and information service for young people aged between 13 and 19 years old*. Based at Sale Waterside, Talkshop provide support on a wide range of general concerns including; relationships, exploring sexuality, conflict at home or school, emotional wellbeing, drugs and alcohol and much more.

0161 912 2453 | email – talkshop@trafford.gov.uk | https://traffordeducation.co.uk/Page/5621

Supporting Young People Online (Reporting any Concerns)

Child Exploitation and Online Protection command www.ceop.police.uk
CEOP have also created an online resource for young people (11-18) to provide information and guidance across 7 categories including relationships, socialising online, abuse and more: www.thinkuknow.co.uk/11_18/

One of the NSPCC’s aims is to make sure it’s safe for every child to go online. They are committed to supporting parents with online safety advice, and protecting children recover from abuse.
www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

The UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) is a leading global partnership helping to make the internet a great and safe place for everyone. They provide support and services to children and young people, adults facing online harms, and professionals working with children sharing best practices across the UK and globally.
www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/young-people

Downloads

AGGS Induction Presentation