Webinar Recording: Is Belonging the Missing Piece in Educational Wellbeing?

Natalie Merrett, Head of Knowledge Dissemination in Schools at Anna Freud (Chair)

Natalie Merrett is an experienced leader with over 13 years in the non-profit sector, building and developing strong relationships with school and college communities. With her Knowledge Dissemination team, Natalie leads and develops programmes and initiatives that support mental health and wellbeing in education. This includes Government-funded projects, mental health and education networks, and anti-racism focused strategies. Natalie is also a School Governor and EDI Trainer, leading Anna Freud’s in-house Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training which involves sensitive facilitation and encouraging open yet challenging conversations.

Julia Clements, School Engagement Trainer at Anna Freud

Julia has worked with children, young people, schools and families for over three decades. She started her professional life as a teacher, before qualifying as an Educational Psychologist. Before joining Anna Freud, Julia worked in a specialist behaviour service, as part of a targeted mental health in schools team, for an adoption support agency and for a national children’s mental health charity. She has a particular interest in the needs of care-experienced children and is passionate about promoting good mental health for all - including good mental health for students and staff in schools and good mental health in families.

Neil Humphrey

Neil Humphrey is the Professor of Psychology of Education at the Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, UK. His research focuses on what we mean by wellbeing, why wellbeing matters, what matters for wellbeing, and what works for wellbeing, in children and young people. When he is not working at the University, Neil moonlights as an unpaid taxi driver for his three daughters.

Mohamed Abdallah

Mohamed Abdallah is the South West Regional Director at The Reach Foundation, where he leads place-based, cradle-to-career work and leadership development aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people who experience disadvantage. He also writes, speaks, and collaborates with school and trust leaders on embedding a framework centred on belonging and mattering.

Tickets include access to recording of the webinar and Q&A discussion and follow-up resources. Access will be provided for 30 days.

For enquiries, please contact school.training@annafreud.org.

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¹ https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-12/UoB%20Belonging%2C%20identity%20and%20safety%20in%20London%20schools%20v4%2009.24_0.pdf