Local coffee shop supporting mental health and wellbeing of children in the community

With increased concerns over the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in our communities exacerbated due to the change and uncertainties brought about by COVID-19, local coffee shop Hudsons is supporting Life Education to make a difference.

A generous donation from Hudsons has enabled Life Education Trust Hutt Valley to reach the tamariki of Wainuiomata Primary School with their Healthy Harold programme. Through health and wellbeing education, Life Education support young people by providing knowledge, tools and strategies to help them make positive choices.

Life Education Trust Hutt Valley Chairperson Steve Graves says, “We’re finding that more and more schools ask for teaching support of resilience, stress, anxiety, relationships and identity. We’d love to be able to reach and support every child in our region, so it’s fantastic to have the support from Hudsons to visit Wainuiomata Primary School, who haven’t had a Life Education visit before. Our Educator Andrea will be teaching six junior classes covering relationships, resilience, being different and managing feelings.”

Life Education Trust Chief Executive John O’Connell says, “Through our outcomes tracking school leaders have identified anxiety as the leading challenge facing children, with 85% responding it was an issue. With the additional impact of COVID-19 in recent months it’s now more important than ever to strengthen students’ resilience, their self-esteem and their understanding of ways to achieve good mental health.”

Hudsons New Zealand Master Franchisor Khushboo Badiyani says, ‘It’s fantastic to be able to support such a well-known charity to educate local children in the wellbeing space, and we’re thrilled to have been able to help bring the programme to a further 130 children in our community.”

Hudsons was launched in New Zealand in 2019 opening its doors in the Queensgate Mall in February this year. Their brand is focused on giving people a better coffee experience that compliments their lifestyle.

Hudsons is also running a colouring competition for schools that have a Life Education visit this term. The winners will be announced at their premises on Sunday 22 November, and Harold the giraffe will be making a guest appearance from 10-10.30am, all are welcome.

Life Education Trust will be teaching at Wainuiomata Primary School from 28 – 30 October.