Mental health bus for teenagers is one stop closer

The Purbeck School students raise £870 for #WillDoes charity set up in the honour of local student

In the memory of William Paddy, they aim to raise awareness of the mental health issues faced by young people, and donate to projects supporting those in need. This includes improving social spaces and outdoors activities, as well as support for individuals experiencing anxiety, bereavement or other mental or physical hardship.

The total of around £5,000 raised by Purbeck and other Dorset schools in the recent appeal is funding a youth bus based in Swanage. The bus will soon be travelling around communities in the local area, providing information and a safe, supportive base for any young people who need it. It is expected to arrive at the start of the next academic year, sometime in September.

This Wednesday, Mr Darley and three sixth form students met with Ms Lesley Paddy, Will’s mother and the founder of the charity, as well as Mr Neil Peters, their treasurer; and Mrs Julie Dyball, secretary and trustee. We are very grateful to them for coming to the school so we could meet some of the people behind such an important cause, both in the local area and beyond. Many students at Purbeck have a personal connection to #WillDoes and its mission.

Lesley thanked Purbeck for our contribution, especially at a difficult time where support for young mental health is so important. She hopes to organise an even bigger non-uniform day next year as this appeal was so successful. She added that when the #WillDoes bus is here, it will visit Purbeck’s car park every so often so that Purbeck students can access its resources straight from school.

More information about #WillDoes’s current fundraisers, grants and ambitions are available on their website at https://www.willdoes.co.uk/. Donations can also be made here.