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Wellbeing

WellbeingHealth and BehaviourEquality, Diversity and InclusionSafeguarding, PREVENT and British Values
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We put your wellbeing at the heart of your
learning experience – find out how here.

Wellbeing

At Pudsey Sixth Form College, supporting wellbeing and promoting good mental health for all our students and staff is paramount. It’s always good to talk and we have dedicated mental health trained coaches who can direct you to services that can help. We offer services ranging from sharing mindfulness techniques to short-term counselling.

  • Five Ways to Wellbeing

    To help students to feel positive and get the most out of life at Pudsey Sixth Form College we promote the 5 ways to wellbeing.

    1. Connect with people
    Make the effort to talk to someone you don’t know, smile and say hello. Connecting with others helps protect your wellbeing.

    2. Be Active
    Exercise can help reduce stress and improve your mood.

    3. Take Notice
    Look at your surroundings and notice your mood. Increase your self-awareness and be mindful of the world around you. Be present. Recognise what is important to you and your life.

    4. Keep Learning
    Boost your self-esteem and confidence by trying something new. Contact the Students’ Union to find out what activities you can get involved in at college.

    5. Give
    Helping others can boost your wellbeing. Say thank you, volunteer your time to help someone, be kind to others.

  • Further Support Links

    Mindwell provide lots of information on services in Leeds: mindwell-leeds.org.uk

    The NHS MindMate Support Team offers early emotional wellbeing support for young people up to 19 years old in education settings across Leeds. They provide services within Leeds City College. Please visit mindmate.org.uk/im-a-young-person/mmst to find out more about how and when to access their support.

    The Mindmate Website provides lots of information to young people and their carers about services to support mental health and wellbeing in the Leeds area: mindmate.org.uk

    Market Place has drop-ins and longer-term counselling: themarketplaceleeds.org.uk

    Online counselling:

    • Shout crisis messenger (24/7) – Text 85258
    • Samaritans (24/7) – Telephone 116 123
    • Kooth (up to age 18)
    • The Mix (up to age 25)
    • Childline (up to age 19)

    This guide provides information on supporting young people who self-harm or are feeling suicidal.

    Leeds Mind

    The aim of our work is to help people build on their strengths, overcome obstacles, and become more in control of their lives. leedsmind.org.uk

    Compassionate support for people bereaved or affected by suicide. Delivered by staff who understand because they’ve been there. leedsmind.org.uk/suicide-bereavement-services-west-yorkshire

    GamCare

    GamCare is the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harms. They operate a National Gambling Helpline, provide treatment for anyone who is harmed by gambling, create awareness about safer gambling and treatment, and encourage an effective approach to safer gambling within the gambling industry. GamCare can provide support for students who you may feel will benefit from their service and deliver gambling awareness sessions for staff and students. gamcare.org.uk

Health and Behaviour

Here at Pudsey Sixth Form College, we promote positive relationships and all staff are trained in Restorative Practice. As well as championing positive behaviour, we provide information and support relating to health. From running health campaigns such as Stoptober to awareness campaigns such as World AIDS Day and National Vegetarian Week, we aim to promote healthy lifestyles and relationships.

Our food and catering services produce a wide range of delicious and nutritious food, and we run a number of events throughout the year. Our events give students practical advice as well as the opportunity to sample dishes, learn new recipes and enjoy food from different cultures.

Students build relationships with their peers having cheerful conversation in the canteen
Students having electrical session with the closest student holding an electric circuit

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

Our ambition is to create and embed an environment and culture where all of
our students and colleagues can feel safe, feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to achieve their full potential. Our EDI team plays an essential part in delivering on our EDI objectives and supporting principals in making sure that they are embedded within each department across the group.

All our staff complete EDI training which helps to foster an inclusive and innovative environment. Our network of EDI champions represent each department and partake in numerous activities to promote equality,
diversity and inclusion.

For more information contact equality@luminate.ac.uk.

EDI Objectives

  • Celebrate diversity

    We will seek and create opportunities to celebrate diversity, being responsive around the needs of the college community and ensure excellence through inclusion. We will do this by:

    • Celebrating the differences between staff and students with actions, words and images, drawing on diversity in its broadest sense
    • Improving the diversity of the workforce to better reflect the profile of our students, and addressing under representation of protected groups: particularly in management roles
    • Monitoring the participation in development opportunities for students and staff, and evaluating feedback on their experiences based on equality characteristics, in order to identify and address any performance gaps
    • Reviewing policies and practices for students and staff to ensure they are inclusive in both language and impact
  • Champion disability, neurodiversity and improve accessibility

    We will champion accessibility of the curriculum and the educational environment, challenge ability discrimination, promote respect and be inclusive regardless of ability, disability or mental wellbeing. We will do this by:

    • Adhering to government accessibility guidelines in all our published, digital, and teaching, learning and assessment materials and aspire to exceed this by embracing best practice wherever possible
    • Improving the way we identify and meet additional support needs for all students, apprentices, staff and service users
    • Raising awareness of the impact of hidden disabilities on participation and inclusion, and improving the visibility and profile of staff and students with disabilities
  • Challenge discrimination and foster inclusion

    We will create a culture of mutual respect, tolerance, democracy and individual liberty and challenge all oppressive language and behaviours. We will do this by:

    • Challenging stereotyping and working practices which may reinforce systemic disadvantage, including gender stereotyping
    • Training staff and developing curriculum resources to raise awareness of unconscious bias
    • Providing opportunities for staff and students to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to challenge behaviours which are oppressive, disrespectful, intimidating or bullying through restorative approaches
    • Aspiring to create a safe and harmonious learning and working environment for all, free from physical risks, bullying or harassment
  • Invest in the Race Equality Roadmap

    We will create an anti-racist culture that promotes accountability, career development, fulfilling potential and building community partnerships.
    We will do this by:

    • Developing clear policies and procedures for reporting and dealing with racism across the organisation
    • Making progress towards diversifying the workforce and investing in and supporting staff to achieve their career aspirations and fulfilment at work
    • Improving data collection, reporting processes and the use of ethnicity data when reporting on staff engagement and experience
    • Engaging a network of student roadmap ambassadors to better understand how race affects their academic experience, and what can be done to improve it
    • Supporting and educating teaching staff across the group to have meaningful, proactive conversations about race, with one another and with students, specifically in relation to their area of teaching
  • Amplify voice and influence

    We will promote a diverse culture where students, apprentices and staff are widely consulted and create their own opportunities to shape and promote equality, diversity and inclusion. We will do this by:

    • Working with the wider student and staff body to increase engagement, influence and co-production in our equality, diversity and inclusion objectives and action plans
    • Developing the knowledge, confidence and awareness of EDI Champions, staff forums and the student committees to encourage a strong EDI voice in study, work and social environments
    • Coordinating campaigns and activities for students and staff to plan, co-produce and lead activities which challenge non-inclusive behaviours
    • Creating opportunities for staff and students to engage with local communities and networks, to share best practice and build links with external groups
  • Promote social mobility

    We will raise aspirations and improve outcomes for all students and staff with protected characteristics or from disadvantaged groups, including economic deprivation. We will promote social mobility by:

    • Recognising the impact of protected characteristics on social mobility and life outcomes and analysing outcomes and performance data, including staff profile, to better understand its impact
    • Developing programmes of activities for students and staff with protected characteristics to harness talent, develop career inspiration and fulfil potential
    • Ensuring retention and attainment gaps are identified and addressed to maximise progression for all students
    • Developing relationships with local communities and external stakeholders, particularly those representing protected groups, to advance equality of opportunity
    • Promoting work experience and employer led activities to enhance the experience of students
Tutor having 1 to 1 session with student making notes while talking with students

Safeguarding, Prevent
and British Values

Promoting the wellbeing and welfare of our students is at the heart of what we do at Pudsey Sixth Form College. We are committed to ensuring that all our students and staff are kept safe and protected from harm, both within and outside of the college environment. To achieve this, we emphasise the importance of safeguarding, the Prevent Duty and adherence to British Values.

Safeguarding

At Pudsey Sixth Form College we are committed to doing everything we can to make sure all of our students and staff are kept safe and protected from harm. This is what safeguarding is all about. It is important to us that all our students are treated with respect and dignity and feel safe and listened to.

All our staff are trained to be alert to any possible causes for concern. We also have a wider team of Stay Safe Officers and Designated Safeguarding Officers, who complete ongoing specialist safeguarding training.

  • Examples of issues that would come under safeguarding:

    Physical abuse
    Domestic abuse
    Sexual abuse
    Neglect
    Financial abuse
    Emotional abuse
    Forced marriage
    Bullying – including online/cyber bullying
    Self-harm
    Suicidal thoughts
    Hate crime
    Female Genital Mutilation
    Faith abuse
    Radicalisation
    Drug and alcohol abuse
    Gangs
    Knife crime

  • What do we do as a college?

    As a college, we take measures to ensure that our safeguarding duty is being met. These measures include:

    • Having a clear policy and procedures in place
    • A trained team of designated safeguarding officers
    • Making sure all of our staff working for, or on behalf of the College, are suitable to work with young people carrying out all the relevant checks
    • Actively encouraging students and staff to raise any concerns they have
    • Taking all concerns seriously, acting upon them, and offering full support both through College and specialist services
    • Training all of our staff in safeguarding at a level appropriate to their role on an ongoing basis
    • Delivering sessions in tutorial time covering a range of subject areas around safeguarding

    You can view our safeguarding policy here:

    Luminate Safeguarding Children and Adults

  • Reporting a concern

    If you are worried about yourself or someone you know in College, please speak to any member of staff. They will ensure you get the help and support you need from a specialist member of staff. You can also use this ‘Report It’ form, or email safeguarding@leedscitycollege.ac.uk.

Prevent

Prevent is a government initiative aimed to stop people getting involved with or supporting violent extremism. Part of our safeguarding duty is to protect vulnerable individuals from the risk of radicalism and extremism. To do this, we follow government guidance which is known as the Prevent duty.

At Pudsey Sixth Form College, everyone has a responsibility to Prevent our students becoming radicalised. All our staff have completed the DfE’s Prevent General Awareness training. Our Safeguarding Officers have completed more in-depth training around Prevent and recognising the signs that someone is becoming radicalised.

Students are delivered messages about Prevent, radicalisation and extremism at the point of induction and then regularly throughout the year during tutorials.

If you think someone is involved in radicalisation and there is an immediate risk of harm, call 999. If it isn’t an emergency, follow the college safeguarding procedure and report it to any staff member.

Student wearing white T-shirt with checked knitted waistcoat sitting down

British Values

All staff and students are expected to uphold and promote the fundamental principles of British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. We believe that students should be given the opportunity to explore diversity and understand Britain as a multi-cultural society; everyone should be treated with respect whatever their race, gender, sexuality, religious belief, special need, or disability.

Democracy

This includes a belief in freedom and equality and ensuring that each and every voice in the College is heard. Democracy influences our decision-making through democratic processes. An example of this is how our students’ union officers are elected by the student body.

The rule of law

This involves understanding the importance of laws and why we follow them. We explore the laws that govern and protect us while understanding the consequences if these rules are broken. We also understand that these may be different from religious laws.

Individual liberty

At the college, students are encouraged to make independent choices and exercise their freedom. We provide boundaries and education for students to be able to make informed choices and take responsibility for those choices.

Mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs

Respect for others is a core focus of Pudsey Sixth Form College which is why our brand values include being respectful and ensuring we celebrate individuality. We encourage students to challenge prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour and understand how their behaviour has an effect on the rights of others.

Race Equality/BLM

The Black Lives Matter statements were adopted by the Luminate Education Group board in December 2020. Subsequent boards at Keighley and Harrogate also endorsed and adopted the statements in January 2021.

Tackling Antisemitism

The IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism, and its examples, was formally endorsed and adopted by the Luminate Education Group board in December 2020. Subsequent boards at Keighley and Harrogate also endorsed and adopted this definition in January 2021.

Challenging Anti-Muslim Prejudice and Islamophobia

Luminate Education Group is committed to eradicating all forms of religious hate crime and hate against Muslims. It is unacceptable for anyone to feel unsafe while practising their religion and we continue to have a zero-tolerance policy towards the hatred of Muslims.

Our Commitments to Gypsy, Romany, Traveller, Boater and Showmen Communities

Luminate Education Group has committed to the Gypsy, Traveller, Romany, Showmen and Boater (GTRSB) into Higher Education Pledge through Buckinghamshire New University.

Luminate Trans Rights Statement

As an organisation we are committed to being an inclusive environment for all. In a time when trans rights, existence and identities are being publicly debated, we continue to support our trans communities. We would like to offer reassurance to our students and staff that we will continue to make every effort to ensure we provide protected spaces for our trans communities.