Barnard Castle School is proud to be supporting rugby mental health charity LooseHeadz as part of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, reinforcing the School’s ongoing commitment to wellbeing, pastoral care, and positive mental fitness across its community.
The collaboration marks the beginning of an exciting relationship between Barnard Castle School and LooseHeadz. Both organisations will explore opportunities to pilot innovative mental health and wellbeing initiatives over the next 12 months.
The programmes are intended to support conversations around mental health within sport and wider communities, with the ambition of making successful initiatives more widely available in the future.
Recognised nationally as rugby’s mental health charity, LooseHeadz works with clubs and organisations around the world to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health and ensure support is accessible throughout the rugby community. Through training, wellbeing resources, and support networks, the charity helps create safer and more supportive environments across the game.
At Barnard Castle School, sport has long played an important role in developing character, resilience, and leadership. The School views sport not simply through the lens of performance, but as a vehicle for personal growth, confidence, and wellbeing both on and off the field.
This shared approach to wellbeing is further strengthened by the involvement of Lee Dickson, Barnard Castle School’s Head of Rugby, who also serves as a LooseHeadz Ambassador.
David Cresswell, Headmaster of Barnard Castle School, said:
“At Barney, we believe education is about developing the whole person. Supporting LooseHeadz during Mental Health Awareness Week reflects our commitment to ensuring that wellbeing sits alongside academic achievement and sporting success at the heart of school life.
“We are excited to be working together on a number of new initiatives over the coming year and to continue supporting the important work LooseHeadz does within the rugby community.”
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, representatives from LooseHeadz visited Barnard Castle School to speak with pupils about mental health, kindness, sleep, resilience, and the importance of creating supportive environments within sport and everyday life.
Ed Midcalf, Barnard Castle School’s Mental Health Lead, commented:
“We are delighted to be working with LooseHeadz at Barnard Castle School. Sport plays an integral part in life at Barney, but before any result, the person comes first. Mental health and care in our community are at the heart of what we do.
“We’re thrilled to welcome LooseHeadz to School during Mental Health Awareness Week and look forward to learning and growing together as we continue to strengthen support for mental wellbeing.”
Heather Lewis, Head of Delivery at LooseHeadz, added:
“It was fantastic to spend time with the students and staff at Barnard Castle School during Mental Health Awareness Week. Creating environments where young people feel able to speak openly, support one another, and prioritise their wellbeing is so important.
“At LooseHeadz, we believe that no one should have to tackle mental health alone, and it’s encouraging to work with schools like Barney that are so committed to putting people first both on and off the pitch.”
Barnard Castle School will also be supporting LooseHeadz at the charity’s gala dinner later this year as part of its ongoing commitment to championing positive mental health within the rugby community.
With a proud rugby tradition that has produced international players and encouraged participation at every level, Barnard Castle School sees the partnership as a natural extension of its values-led approach to education and sport.
