SERC Awarded Grant for Student Wellbeing Project

SERC have secured grant funding from the Public Health Agency for a project to support student and trainee mental wellbeing.

The £4k grant will be used to support up to 100 Foundation Learning students with mild to moderate learning difficulties.  The students will undertake a programme of physical exercise and cooking sessions that promote healthy eating and overall wellbeing.

Paul Walsh, Downpatrick Campus Manager and Head of Learner Welfare at SERC said, “Creating positive experiences in exercise and food preparation is essential for cultivating healthy habits. Regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on mental health such as reducing stress, boosting confidence and fostering valuable social connections.  In addition, a balanced diet rich in nutrients can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and improve mental resilience.

He added, “The knowledge and skills that the students and trainees will develop throughout the 10-week project will be with them far beyond the end of the project.   These are life-skills which they will be able to call upon when they face the challenges that everyday life may throw at them.”

The wellbeing project commences from mid-March and will operate across SERC’s main campuses in Bangor, Downpatrick, Lisburn and Newtownards.