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• Sport and dance interventions for healthy young people (15-24 years) to promote
subjective well-being: a systematic review (Mansfield et al., 2016). This review of
published studies between 2006 and 2016 found that meditative activities, group and
peer-supported sport and dance may promote subjective well-being enhancement in
youth. However, evidence is limited and better designed studies are needed.
Manual review of Sector other stakeholder responses in relation to mental health and
wellbeing
Both the AoC and Sixth Form Colleges Association have published responses as a result of
institutional and NHS surveys. FE colleges are in the front line in relation to addressing
complex mental health issues and, therefore, most of the recommendations for mitigations
are focused on Sector institutions.
AoC noted that FE colleges have significantly increased resources being allocated to
improving student and staff mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic. This is a
reversal of the trend of recent years that had seen a reduction in funding allocated to this
area of college life.
Their main recommendations to the Sector are to:
• explore the potential to roll out a social prescribing model with colleges using physical
activity and other enrichment activities as a means of promoting overall student
wellbeing;
• encourage all colleges to sign the AoC MH charter and annually evidence how they meet
all 11 commitments;
• engage with the Local Suicide Prevention Plan; should ensure all staff have access to
suicide awareness training, should work with experts to develop specific resources on
suicide prevention for FE Colleges;
• develop additional support programmes for learners with mental health difficulties or
deemed vulnerable to support smooth transition and aid retention;
• ensure all institutional policies have an assessment of their impact on the mental
health of staff and students.
Their main recommendations for government are to:
• create a national fund to support the transition and retention of 16-year-old students
into colleges in September 2021 targeted at the most vulnerable learners;
• ensure that investments and training opportunities relating to mental health and for
education settings take specific account of the needs of further education colleges and
their whole learner population.
The Sixth Form Colleges Association, drawing on reported NHS Mental Health of Children
and Young People in England, 2020 and working with the Behavioural Insight Team, have
proposed short-term strategies focused on introducing mindfulness exercises within the
curriculum.