Celebrating our mental health and wellbeing legacy, shaping what’s next

Bright Futures launches the countdown to its Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference while strengthening Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) support across the Trust.

As Bright Futures Educational Trust marks World Mental Health Day (10 October), the Trust is celebrating its longstanding commitment to mental health and wellbeing while looking ahead to the next chapter of support for colleagues, pupils and communities.

The Trust is launching the countdown to its Belong, Thrive, Succeed: Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference, taking place on 29 April 2027.

The event forms part of Bright Futures’ new Belong, Thrive, Succeed conference series, alongside the Enrichment Conference on 4 February 2027 and #REND Manchester on 19 March 2027, exploring how wellbeing, enrichment and professional learning help children, young people and colleagues belong, thrive and succeed.

The conference builds on a strong legacy of mental health leadership. Through its leading work on the Greater Manchester Mentally Healthy Schools Programme, Bright Futures has played a pioneering role in the delivery of MHFA to thousands of teachers and leaders, helping to increase awareness, confidence and early intervention around mental health in schools and workplaces across the region. The Trust’s CEO, Lisa Fathers OBE, is a longstanding advocate for mental health and wellbeing. As a national MHFA trainer and former Chair of the national Well Schools Board, she helped guide the launch of the Well Schools movement on behalf of the Youth Sport Trust.

Today, that commitment remains as important as ever. Every Bright Futures school has trained Mental Health First Aiders, providing additional capacity to support both staff and pupils and helping to ensure that early intervention is available when it is needed most.

Through its Educational Psychology Team, which supports Educational Psychologist training with The University of Manchester, alongside its Specialist Outreach Services and Professional Development Institute, Bright Futures delivers a wide range of mental health and wellbeing support and professional development, including Emotion Coaching, Trauma-Informed and Attachment-Aware Practice, Bereavement Support and MHFA.

As part of the next phase of this work, colleagues from across the Trust are undertaking MHFA Refresher training, while Bright Futures establishes a Trust-wide Mental Health First Aider Network to strengthen collaboration, share best practice and support the delivery of its Well Trust and Well Schools strategy.

Lisa Fathers said: “Mental health and wellbeing have been central to our work for many years and we are proud of the impact that MHFA and our wider wellbeing offer have had across our schools and communities.

“As we look ahead to our Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference on 29 April 2027, we have an opportunity to celebrate that legacy while focusing on what comes next. Through refreshed MHFA training, a strengthened network and continued investment in wellbeing and Well Schools, we are reaffirming our commitment to ensuring that every colleague and every pupil has the opportunity to belong, thrive and succeed.

“Everything we do is underpinned by our belief that people thrive when they feel valued, supported and connected. By continuing to invest in mental health and wellbeing, we are creating the conditions for our staff and young people to flourish, securing ‘the best for everyone, the best from everyone’.”

Guided by its values of Leadership, Integrity, Passion, Community, Resilience and Equality, Bright Futures remains committed to creating healthy, supportive environments where wellbeing is prioritised and everyone can flourish. As part of the Belong, Thrive, Succeed conference series, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference reflects the Trust’s values of Integrity and Resilience, encouraging open and honest conversations about mental health while promoting the confidence, skills and support networks that help people navigate challenges and thrive.