A Community-Built Approach to Wellbeing

The Willow Hub Initiative was created in response to the growing demand for mental health support among young people. We recognised that one-off initiatives were no longer enough, so we dedicated significant time, expertise and resources to build an entirely new system of care - one that would ensure consistent, accessible, and proactive mental health support for all.

Officially launched this academic year, the Willow Hub holds three central aims:

• To provide pupils, staff and parents with access to professional mental health support with minimal wait times.

• To identify those in need of early intervention and provide timely, compassionate support.

• To empower our young people with the knowledge and skills to care for themselves and others throughout their lives.

What makes this initiative truly special is that it was built by our community, for our community. Pupils, staff and parents played an active role in shaping the Hub from the very beginning — even volunteering their time to transform our former school shop into the fully operational wellbeing centre we have today.

Meeting the Challenges of 2024–25

Like many schools across the country, we have seen an increase in anxiety and depression among young people, particularly in Years 7–9. In response, we expanded our in-house wellbeing provision by introducing five trainee counselling and psychotherapy placements, helping us to maintain an average wait time of just 4.4 days from self-referral to professional support.

Our commitment to wellbeing extends beyond our pupils. We have strengthened our support for staff through in-house counselling, trauma-informed training, and resilience and mindfulness programmes for both staff and parents - recognising that a well-supported community is key to helping young people thrive.

A Measurable Impact

Since launching the Willow Hub, we have seen a measurable improvement in our wellbeing culture. Data from STEER, an external mental health tracking system, revealed a 7.4% increase in pupil self-referrals.

A Whole-School Commitment to Wellbeing

But our commitment to wellbeing extends far beyond the Hub. It’s woven into every aspect of school life. From the moment a pupil joins, they become part of one of our Houses – Pelham, Derry, Talbot, Gibbs, Mason, or Portland – each providing a strong sense of belonging, where Houseparents and individual tutors truly know and nurture every child.

By embedding mental health awareness into our House system, we ensure every pupil feels supported, encouraged, and celebrated. Our dedicated staff inspire pupils to become advocates for wellbeing through initiatives like our Peer Listening Scheme, which trains senior pupils to offer peer-to-peer support and promote open conversations around mental health.

In the words of Old Worksopian Chad Varah, founder of the Samaritans, “there are in this world people who seem to be ‘ordinary’, but who turn out to be extraordinary. How? They listen and listen and listen, without interrupting.”

A Culture of Care, Respect and Trust

Aaron Cawley, Mental Health Lead at the time of nomination, said: "I am thrilled and honoured to hear that Worksop College and Ranby House has been named the Independent School of the Year for Student Wellbeing. I am full of appreciation for the opportunity to have lead the strategy that lead to this award being granted and to have done so with such a sincere and passionate team."

Headmaster Charles Bailey added:

“At Worksop College, wellbeing is not an add-on – it’s at the heart of everything we do. This award reflects our belief that when pupils feel safe, supported and valued, they can truly thrive.”

The Willow Hub continues to evolve, ensuring that Worksop College remains at the forefront of pupil wellbeing – creating an environment where every individual can flourish.