This week, we’re marking Mental Health Awareness Week - a UK-wide opportunity to focus on mental health, challenge stigma and talk more openly about our wellbeing. The theme this year is Action, reminding us that while awareness matters, real progress comes from turning understanding into practice. ColegauCymru is clear that in order to support college learners and staff, the emphasis must be placed on prevention and early intervention, sustainable investment in wellbeing and safeguarding, and greater collaboration across education, health and social care.
Colleges are already playing an important role in supporting learners and staff before needs escalate. It also reflects our call for a whole-college approach to mental health support, one that recognises colleges as key partners in promoting wellbeing in our communities, while ensuring they are supported through sustainable investment, access to services and stronger cross-sector collaboration.
Demand for pastoral, wellbeing and safeguarding support in FE has risen significantly in recent years, with wellbeing and safeguarding referrals more than doubling over five years. Alongside this increasing demand, colleges are seeing more complex needs, including higher levels of mental ill health, trauma, neurodiversity and poverty-related stress. In practice, FE institutions are increasingly operating as frontline services, working tirelessly to support their learners and staff.
The growing focus on prevention and partnership working is positive, but it also highlights the importance of making sure colleges have the support they need to keep up with rising demand. Partnership working in the FE sector can be seen with organisations such as Mind Cymru, who tell us that mental health is everything and can affect every part of our lives, so now, more than ever, we need it to be prioritised by the new Welsh Government. Colleges have a key role in helping young people talk about any issues they have, as well as providing support and signposting to further help.
Turning awareness into Action
Across the sector, colleges are already responding with creativity and care, from preventative programmes to tailored, learner-centred support. The following case study highlights how this is making a difference in practice:
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The Baxter Project, The College Merthyr Tydfil The Baxter Project, a multi-award winning, therapeutic, animal-assisted early intervention programme, has been a valuable addition to wellbeing support at The College Merthyr Tydfil. The opportunity for a learner to step outside and talk while walking Cooper, the therapy dog, has helped create a more relaxed space where they can open up and express how they are feeling. The support works alongside existing wellbeing services to ensure learners receive the help they need, offering a different approach that can ease the transition into college. One learner began accessing support after experiencing significant distress following a family illness. Through weekly sessions with her keyworker and Cooper, alongside ongoing wellbeing support in college, she has grown in confidence, accessed wider support such as employability and wellbeing activities, and is now in part-time employment and on track to complete her course successfully. |
Looking ahead
The ColegauCymru manifesto, Growth, Opportunity and Fairness, is clear in our ask for the Welsh Government, working with Medr, to commit to sustainable funding for mental health and wellbeing provision in colleges that help to create healthier, more resilient communities. This must be accompanied by improved access to statutory services, investment in workforce development, and robust early intervention.
Sustained investment in pastoral coaches, mental health provision and multi‑agency support is also essential, not only to ensure learners receive the care they need, but also to keep staff workloads manageable.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, the message from the FE sector is clear: colleges stand ready to play their part. With the right support, partnership and investment, awareness can turn into meaningful action - for learners, for staff, and for the wellbeing of communities across Wales.
Further Information
Mental Health Awareness Week
11 - 17 May 2026
The ColegauCymru Active Wellbeing Strategy focuses on the value of physical activity for good mental health
Read more about our work on mental health
ColegauCymru Manifesto
Growth, Opportunity and Fairness
Amy Williams, Policy Officer
Amy.Williams@ColegauCymru.ac.uk
