Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) Charity and its SHINE Fund have partnered with St. Paul’s CE Primary School in Ryhope, Sunderland, as the school’s community link for the 2025/26 school year.
Located near CNTW’s Hopewood Park Hospital, the partnership will strengthen connections in the local community as well as support pupil wellbeing.
As part of the collaboration, the SHINE Fund team and nurses from the Trust’s Children and Young People’s Services have delivered mindfulness sessions at the school. Pupils took part in breathing exercises, mindfulness activities and ‘stress bucket’ exercises to help manage stress, build resilience and support emotional wellbeing.
Sharon Brennan, Charity Communications and Marketing Manager, said: “This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to bring our charity, NHS staff, and local school community together. Through mindfulness sessions and collaboration, we aim to raise awareness of mental health, improve community and patient spaces, and support the next generation in developing tools to look after their wellbeing.”
Lisa Quinn-Briton, Headteacher of St. Paul’s CE Primary School added: “We are thrilled to be working with CNTW Charity and the SHINE Fund. Pupils have enjoyed the mindfulness sessions, and they are excited to take part in fundraising activities to support the SHINE Fund’s vital work for patients and carers in our community.”
Sam Diston, Clinical Manager at CNTW, said: “We recognise that children’s mental health has been progressively getting worse since the pandemic. As a Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service, we are passionate about equipping children with the tools, knowledge and skills around building resilience and knowing when to reach out if they need help. Early intervention and prevention is key.”
Throughout the school year, pupils will continue to take part in wellbeing initiatives and fundraising activities, helping the SHINE Fund provide essential support for patients and carers across the region.
The SHINE Fund provides the extras that make a big difference to patient recovery. Since launching in 2014, SHINE has funded hundreds of projects, supporting patients with everything from improved indoor and outdoor spaces, exercise equipment and pet therapy to yoga classes, gardening tools and much more.
