Big Change Logo

Emoco

Emoco aims to improve mental health in schools by working with young people, teachers, parents, carers, and school leaders to create a culture of wellbeing.

What we did:

Big Change funded Andrew Speight as a finalist in our Big Education Challenge in 2023. This funding and support programme helped Andrew develop his idea for the Emoco project and expand his work with more schools to put wellbeing at the heart of their ethos.

The Spark

There is a mental health crisis among young people, with a 2020 study by NHS Digital finding that 1 in 6 children had a probable mental health condition during that year.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic this number has significantly increased, with many schools unable to take adequate measures to address this crisis. Many young people believe that the education system and its structure have played a significant role in their mental health decline.

This is not limited to students, as evidenced by Education Support’s 2020 Teacher Wellbeing Index, which showed that over half of teachers are considering leaving the profession due to the harm it does to their mental health.

Andrew Speight, from Blackpool, co-created Emoco after struggling with the effects of a high-pressure academic environment on his mental health.

Blackpool’s young people have made clear that they want action to be taken to improve their mental health. We know from both research and lived experience that the education system is presently a driving factor behind poor mental health in young people.
Andrew Speight

Half

of teachers considering leaving the profession due to mental health

1 in 6

Children having probable mental health conditions

The impact

The Emoco project aims to inspire key school stakeholders - including young people, teachers, parents/carers, and school leaders - to come together to co-produce a "culture of wellbeing" in schools. This means recognising mental wellbeing as a prerequisite to academic success, and where wellbeing is embedded across the practices and policies that make up a school.

Big Change is proud to have supported Andrew in developing his idea for the Emoco project and expanding its work with more schools to put wellbeing at the heart of the ethos of schools.

The Big Changemaker

Andrew Speight

Andrew is a former Member of Youth Parliament. He aspires to transform the education system to be more accommodating to the mental health needs of students, teachers, and other school staff while creating a culture of wellbeing. Andrew’s experience as a student is what inspired him to pursue this mission.

As a student, Andrew experienced anxiety and a decline in his mental health due to the high-pressure culture and environment. This experience made him realise the need for a more supportive educational system. Andrew believes that the education system should not only prioritise academic excellence but also mental wellbeing. His goal is to create a culture where students, teachers, and school staff do not feel that their experiences in school are undermining their mental health.

Education is not conducive to positive mental wellbeing – this is painfully obvious from both my lived and learned experience. Emoco seeks to bring everyone together in co-production to compose meaningful, effective and informed solutions.
Andrew Speight