Watson said the packs are not aimed at suggesting a child has anything wrong with them or giving them labels, but more for school staff to use, to help a child cope and understand what they are feeling.<\/p>\n
“You don’t have to hold that in. You can talk about it and it is good to talk and learn from a very young age that talking about your feelings is how you get things done and how you get the support started,” she said. <\/p>\n
So far, the foundation has donated 10 kits to all primary schools in Evesham and has begun donating others to primaries in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Joe’s home town.<\/p>\n
Watson said that she is able to run the non-profit foundation thanks to donations from a loyal band of supporters and local authorities’ grants. <\/p>\n
“We had funding from Evesham Town Council for the ten primary schools within the Evesham area and we will carry on that way contacting local councils for grants so we can put the kits into schools in that specific area,” she said. <\/p>\n
Watson, who spent eight years in the palliative care sector, has a counselling qualification and aims to get one in psychotherapy, so she can then offer specialist services alongside the advice and guidance contained in the packs.<\/p>\n
“Our goal is to get a kit in every single primary school within Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, which there are 720 primary schools. So we’ve got a long haul to go,” she said. <\/p>\n
“We’re making 16 more to deliver next week. And once we finish with primary schools, we are currently working on kits that can be used for middle and secondary schools.”<\/p>\n