The Young Minds charity day saw Upton Junior School in Broadstairs shining with a blaze of yellow.

Children took part in the nationwide Hello Yellow initiative to raise awareness about the importance of mental health in young people and also to generate funds as part of the organisation’s annual profiling event.

Upton, which supports a range of local, national and international charities throughout the year, invited pupils and staff to wear an item of yellow clothing in exchange for a small donation.

Izzy Reed, Personal Development Lead, co-ordinated the Hello Yellow day which was in support of World Mental Health Day on October 10.

She led a whole-school assembly about the day at the start of the week. The children reflected on strategies that make them feel better when they are feeling low.

She explained:” In our reading lessons across the school we learnt about positive affirmations and how thinking about these will help us "bounce-back" when we feel low.

“The well-being of our pupils shapes the curriculum and school life at Upton. Key drivers of this include children to identify their emotions using the Zones of Regulation daily, the first week of every term being a Personal Development Week which centres on supporting children's feelings, thoughts and emotions, and also teachers being adaptive to the needs of their class throughout the school day.”

Head of School Darci Arthur said that Upton has raised around £400 and added: ““At Upton we have a strong and structured support network for our children enabling them to openly discuss their feelings and anxieties. They know that help and understanding is available whenever they need it in school.

“The Hello Yellow day is an important occasion as it focusses attention on strong and balanced mental health. This is also a part of our ongoing well-being strategy that covers a range of initiatives.”

The Young Minds website states: “Right now, the world is a really tough place for children and young people to grow up in. We want young people to know that they don’t have to go through this alone. Things can get better - because we stand brighter, together. ”

Writing on the charity’s website, Chief Executive Laura Bunt said: “We’re facing a young people’s mental health emergency - but here at Young Minds, we’re facing it with hope and optimism.

“We believe in young people and their ability to change things for themselves and for each other. That’s why we aim to connect with as many young people as possible

and the trusted adults around them, working with strength, determination and heart to turn the tide on the young people’s mental health crisis.”

For more information about Young Minds go online to www.youngminds.org.uk

Upton Junior School is part of the Viking Academy Trust with Chilton Primary School and Ramsgate Arts Primary School.

*For more information contact Head of School Darci Arthur on 01843 861393