OUR BACK STORY

A meeting took place in early 2017 between the now CEO Richard Stewart and the then University of Suffolk Students’ Union President Rachel Gilbey. The meeting discussed how the University’s students might want to collaborate on a lifestyle publication, centred around life as a young person. Six months later, the publication had expanded into 15 schools and colleges and had added film production and mental health awareness into the project. 2 years later the project became a registered charity and was delivering its first mental health awareness training to young people.

Student Life (now My Life) became a Community Interest Company (CIC) in June 2017 and converted to a registered charity (CIO) in November 2018. It’s the only peer-to-peer platform of its kind in the UK.

• Upskilling

• Enrichment

• Extra-Curricular Activity

• Self-Worth

• The Chance to Discover New Passions

• Health Awareness

• Work Readiness

• Confidence Building

• Writing and Photography Skills

• Empowerment

• Business Awareness

• Organisational Skills

• Normalisation of Stigmatised Subjects

• Peer Support

• Cross Setting/Region Introductions and Friendships

“Since our students received training from Student Life around mental health and the way the brain works, I am confident that this will have a huge impact on our students' wellbeing. It is always useful for students to have a better understanding into who they are and why they feel the way they do. Understanding the way the brain works and the way the brain may make us feel gives our students the autonomy to make positive changes to look after themselves. The Brain and Behaviour section of the training allowed students to understand that every emotion has a purpose and that it is normal to feel these emotions and provided a ‘toolbox’ of skills that they can utilise when it is needed. The sections of the training including anxiety and depression were beneficial to our students as these are issues that some may face, and may be suffering in silence. Now that they have a better understanding and a conversation has been opened up, we are seeing students become a lot more honest with how they feel and more confident to ask for help.”

Debenham High School

THE TEAM