Meet our Wellbeing Ambassadors

Our Wellbeing Ambassadors play a valuable role in creating a supportive school community, helping pupils feel heard, understood and comfortable talking about how they’re feeling. We caught up with this year’s team of four, Daniel, Olivia, Tamara and Sabi (all S6), to find out more about their role, the work they’re doing across the school and what they have planned for the year ahead.

A friendly face and a listening ear
The Wellbeing Ambassadors are there to offer an additional layer of peer support, particularly for pupils who might find it difficult to approach a teacher or another member of staff.

“We’re a bit more informal, so if you don’t want to go fully to a teacher but you would still like to talk to someone, we’re always there,” they explained.

As fellow pupils, the ambassadors hope that being closer in age will make it easier for others to open up and share how they’re feeling. Their role is about offering a friendly face, a listening ear and a reminder that no one has to navigate difficult moments alone.

Although they are particularly focused on supporting pupils in the Upper School, the team is keen to build connections across the school. They have already visited form rooms to introduce themselves to younger pupils and recently took part in a Personal and Social Education (PSE) session with S1 pupils, helping them get to know the team early in their time at Albyn.

The ambassadors hope to extend these sessions to other year groups, giving them the opportunity to hear directly from pupils about what matters to them and how the team can best offer support.

Making wellbeing part of everyday school life
For the ambassadors, raising awareness is a key part of their role. They want to encourage more open conversations about mental health and help the school community better understand the different challenges people may be experiencing.

The team meets regularly with Mrs Pratt, Principal Teacher of Pupil Support and PSE, and works closely with Mrs Crawford, Deputy Head (Pupil Wellbeing), as well as the School Counsellor, Gillian Stuart-Murray. They also undertake active listening training and learn how to respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, ensuring they understand the responsibilities that come with their role and when to involve an appropriate member of staff.

Looking ahead, the team has plenty of ideas for bringing pupils together and creating more opportunities to talk about wellbeing in an approachable way.

One of their plans is to introduce a Friday lunchtime drop-in, where pupils can come along for an informal chat, meet the ambassadors and enjoy some board games. The aim is to create a relaxed, welcoming space where pupils can connect with others and know that support is available if they need it.

The team is also planning a series of awareness-raising activities throughout the year, including another out-of-uniform day and events for Anti-Bullying Week in November. The ambassadors will also lead assemblies to help pupils across the school become more familiar with who they are and how they can offer support.

Why wellbeing matters
World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of mental health, challenge stigma and encourage conversations that might otherwise feel difficult to start. In a school environment, where pupils are navigating friendships, academic pressures, personal changes and the everyday ups and downs of growing up, creating a culture of openness and understanding is especially important.

Having pupils who are willing to listen, raise awareness and encourage others to speak up can help make wellbeing feel like a shared responsibility across the school community.

For the Wellbeing Ambassadors, the ultimate goal is simple: to help more people understand mental health, recognise that everyone faces different challenges and feel more comfortable reaching out when they need support.

Through their work this year, the team hopes to make a positive difference by encouraging conversations, celebrating individuality and helping every pupil feel that they belong at Albyn.

As we mark World Mental Health Day, their message is a timely reminder that small actions can make a real difference, whether that’s checking in with a friend, taking the time to listen or simply letting someone know they’re not alone.