Starter Guide to Launching a Wellbeing Ambassador Programme in Your Secondary School

Implementing a Wellbeing Ambassador programme can be a powerful, student-led step towards fostering a culture of positive mental health and support within your school community. This guide provides a clear, practical framework to help you establish a successful peer support system, empowering students to become champions for wellbeing.

What is a Wellbeing Ambassador Programme?

A Wellbeing Ambassador programme trains a select group of students to promote positive mental health, signpost support services, and lead wellbeing initiatives among their peers. These ambassadors are not counsellors; they are approachable and relatable points of contact who help to destigmatise mental health conversations and build a more supportive school environment.

Acting as role models, they can listen to their peers, offer encouragement, and guide them towards the appropriate adult support when needed. The programme is a core component of a whole-school approach to mental health, putting student voice and peer-to-peer connection at the heart of your school's mental health and wellbeing strategy.

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The Benefits of a Secondary School Wellbeing Ambassador Programme

Introducing a peer-led wellbeing initiative can have a significant positive impact across a secondary school. Key benefits include:

• Increased Student Engagement: Students often feel more comfortable talking to a peer first. This can lead to earlier intervention and prevent early mental health related issues from escalating.
• Improved School Atmosphere: Ambassadors help create a kinder, more inclusive environment where students feel safe and connected and that they belong.
• Reduced Staff Workload: While not a replacement for professional support, ambassadors can help manage low-level concerns and signpost effectively, allowing pastoral staff to focus on students with more complex needs.
• Development of Key Skills: Ambassadors develop crucial life skills such as leadership, communication, empathy, and problem-solving.
• Empowered Secondary School Community: The programme demonstrates a visible commitment to student wellbeing, reassuring both students and parents that mental health is a priority in their secondary school.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Programme

Follow these steps to build a sustainable and effective Wellbeing Ambassador programme from the ground up in your school.

Step 1: Secure Leadership Buy-In and Designate a Lead

For the programme to succeed, it needs the full support of your Senior Leadership Team (SLT). Present a clear proposal outlining the benefits, resource requirements (staff time, training budget), and expected outcomes.

For ideas on how to do this, visit our article on proposing a Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme to your SLT.

Once approved, identify a dedicated member of staff to lead the programme. This person will be responsible for recruitment, training, and ongoing supervision of your team of student Wellbeing Ambassadors. An ideal lead is someone from the pastoral team or a Senior Mental Health Lead who is passionate about student wellbeing.

Step 2: Recruit Your Ambassadors

Share a role description and establish a simple application process. You can invite applications from a specific year group (e.g., Year 10 or 12), approach students who you feel would be great ambassadors or open it up for applications more widely. Promote the opportunity through assemblies, tutor time, and school newsletters.

Look for students who demonstrate:

• Empathy and kindness
• Good communication and listening skills
• A responsible and mature attitude
• A genuine interest in helping others

The selection process could involve a written application and a brief, informal interview to gauge their suitability and motivation. Aim for a diverse group of ambassadors who represent different areas of your student community. Once your first team of Wellbeing Ambassadors are established, they can help you with ongoing recruitment of further teams of ambassadors.

Step 3: Provide Comprehensive Training

Effective training is the cornerstone of a successful programme. Your training should equip ambassadors with the knowledge and skills they need to feel confident and competent in their role.

Key training modules should cover:

• Understanding Wellbeing: Basic concepts, common issues faced by young people, and the importance of self-care.
• Active Listening Skills: How to listen without judging and show empathy.
• Communication Skills: How to communicate effectively and assertively with peers.
• Peer Support Techniques: How to support peers through active listening, empathy, and positive reinforcement.
• Signposting: Knowing the school’s support systems (pastoral staff, counsellors) and external services, and when and how to refer a peer.
• Boundaries & Safeguarding: A clear understanding of the limits of their role. They must know they are not counsellors and are required to report any safeguarding concerns immediately to the designated staff lead.
• Running Wellbeing Initiatives: Skills for planning and delivering assemblies, workshops, or awareness campaigns.

Step 4: Launch and Promote the Programme

Once your ambassadors are trained, it’s time for the official launch. Introduce them to the rest of the school community through assemblies, posters with their photos, and a dedicated section on the school website.

Ensure all students know who their Wellbeing Ambassadors are, how to identify them (e.g., with a specific badge or lanyard), and how to approach them. It’s also vital that all staff understand the ambassadors' role and the importance of the programme’s boundaries.

Our Wellbeing Ambassadors programme provides all the materials and training for you to develop, establish and run your own Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme, including promotional resources, recruitment documents and a 5-hour training programme for students. Find out more here

Step 5: Facilitate Ongoing Support and Supervision

The role of an ambassador can be demanding. Regular supervision sessions with the staff lead are essential. These meetings provide a safe space for ambassadors to:

• Debrief and share experiences.
• Discuss any challenges they are facing.
• Receive ongoing training and guidance.
• Plan future wellbeing initiatives together.

These sessions ensure ambassadors feel supported and valued, which is crucial for their own wellbeing and the long-term success of the programme.

Potential Challenges and Solutions

Challenge: Lack of Student Engagement

• Solution: Ensure your ambassadors are visible and relatable. Have them lead fun, engaging activities like wellbeing walks, mindfulness sessions, or 'Time to Talk' events. Promote their work consistently.

Challenge: Ambassadors Feeling Overwhelmed

• Solution: Reinforce the importance of boundaries during training and supervision. Remind them that their primary role is to listen and signpost, not to solve problems. Ensure the staff lead is readily available for support.

Challenge: Maintaining Momentum

• Solution: Empower ambassadors to take ownership of projects. Help them create an annual calendar of events tied to national awareness days (e.g., Mental Health Awareness Week). Celebrate their successes publicly to keep motivation high.

Challenge: Time and Capacity of Staff

• Solution: Time is limited, so focus on achievable actions. Our programme runs in one school day, with half a day needed to prepare. Once launched, students only need brief weekly or fortnightly check-ins for support. This initial time investment builds long-term capacity for early prevention in the school community.

Conclusion

As schools continue to prioritise student well-being, senior mental health leads must have the resources and support they need to effectively address mental health challenges.

Our comprehensive training programme offers evidence-based frameworks, peer support initiatives, and ongoing development opportunities to equip educators with the tools they need for success

By investing time and resources into a well-structured Wellbeing Ambassador programme, your school can empower its students to become proactive leaders in creating a healthier, more supportive community for everyone.

Take the Next Step

Are you ready to empower your students and create a positive, supportive school community? Download our Free Wellbeing Ambassadors Cheat Sheet to explore key insights and practical tips for starting and running a successful Wellbeing Ambassador programme.

Not sure if the program is right for you? Access our Free Introduction to Wellbeing Ambassadors Webinar to learn more about the benefits, structure, and real-life impact of implementing this initiative in schools like yours.

For those ready to take the next step, join our program today! Gain access to a complete toolkit of resources, training, and ongoing support designed to help you confidently lead and support your team of student Wellbeing Ambassadors. Together, we can build a healthier, more inclusive school environment.