A Child’s Voice® School Mental Health Ambassador Programme

The A Child’s Voice® School Mental Health Ambassador Programme equips students with the knowledge, skills and resources to promote mental health awareness, emotional wellbeing and positive peer relationships within their school community.

This structured 10-week programme provides training, practical activities, workbooks and ongoing guidance to help student ambassadors develop confidence, encourage positive conversations about mental health, promote help-seeking and understand how to signpost peers to appropriate professional support.

The programme supports suicide awareness and prevention, safeguarding awareness and student voice, while reinforcing the importance of professional boundaries and following school safeguarding procedures.

This programme is designed for schools supporting young people aged 13–17, including:

• Secondary schools and academies.
• Pastoral and student wellbeing teams.
• Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs).
• Mental health and personal development leads.
• Schools seeking to strengthen student voice and peer wellbeing initiatives.

Each programme supports up to four student Mental Health Ambassadors.

• Promoting mental health awareness and emotional wellbeing.
• Developing emotional literacy, resilience and positive coping skills.
• Building empathy, active listening and supportive communication.
• Understanding suicide awareness and prevention.
• Recognising when a peer may be experiencing difficulties.
• Learning how to signpost peers to trusted adults and professional services.
• Understanding safeguarding responsibilities, confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Promoting respect, inclusion and positive relationships.
• Supporting neurodivergent students through inclusive, trauma-informed approaches.
• Encouraging student voice and positive contributions to school wellbeing.

Student Leadership

Empowering young people to take an active role in promoting wellbeing within their school community.

Mental Health Awareness

Developing understanding of emotional wellbeing, suicide awareness and the importance of seeking help.

Safeguarding and Signposting

Helping ambassadors understand their role in recognising concerns and directing peers towards appropriate adult and professional support.

Inclusive and Compassionate Practice

Encouraging empathy, respect and understanding of different experiences and needs.

• Structured 10-week training programme.
• Training modules and practical activities.
• Discussion guides to develop empathy, listening and problem-solving.
• Licensed student workbooks and supporting resources.
• Guidance on safeguarding, boundaries and signposting.
• Ongoing support and mentoring.
• Opportunities to develop leadership skills and contribute to school wellbeing initiatives.

The programme must operate within the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures, with appropriate staff oversight.

Student ambassadors are not counsellors, mental health professionals or safeguarding practitioners. They must not be expected to assess risk, manage disclosures independently or provide crisis support. Concerns must be referred promptly to the appropriate trusted adult or safeguarding lead.

The programme aims to support:

• Increased student awareness and understanding of mental health.
• Greater confidence in recognising when someone may need help.
• Improved understanding of safeguarding and appropriate signposting.
• Stronger empathy, inclusion and positive peer relationships.
• Increased student participation in promoting wellbeing.
• A more supportive school environment where young people feel encouraged to speak up and seek help.