The Manchester RISE Up programme is transforming how students engage with physical education.
At Manchester Communication Academy (MCA), this trauma informed initiative has been particularly impactful for Year 9 girls, focusing on movement for mental wellbeing to boost confidence, foster friendships, and improve emotional resilience.
Among these students is Shelly, a 14-year-old whose experiences provide a powerful testament to the programme’s potential.
Shelly’s story highlights how the Manchester RISE Up programme has created a supportive environment for young people to thrive, reinforcing the importance of collaboration, choice, and emotional safety in PE.
Shelly’s Case Study
“The RISE Up lessons have positively impacted my week as well as my PE lessons,” Shelly shared. “More people have engaged in the lessons, and since we’ve talked about topics like mental wellbeing, it’s helped people socialise and understand each other better.”
“I enjoy having more choices in PE because my voice and opinion are heard,” she explained. “Being able to choose means I can pick an activity I know I’ll fully engage in, which makes the lessons even more enjoyable.”
Shelly reflected on how the programme has changed her perspective on exercise and movement. “These lessons have changed how I feel about exercise because they approach it in a new, fun way. I also feel more comfortable since we’re not being sorted into groups anymore—I can exercise with my friends, which makes me feel more at ease.”
When talking about the impact on her friendships, she said, “The lessons have helped with my friendships. We’ve been doing activities we all enjoy together, which has created more moments to laugh and have fun. This has built a positive environment around us. During the lessons, my friends and I often laugh and give each other good feedback, which makes it even better.”
Although the lessons haven’t changed how Shelly feels about her teacher, she explained why. “That’s because I already had a positive view of them. They’ve always been supportive, and that hasn’t changed.”
Finally, Shelly spoke about the emotional benefits she’s experienced. “These lessons have helped me manage my emotions better. They take my mind off my worries and have helped me understand why I might feel the way I do. This has made a big difference in how I handle things.”
Note: Shelly’s name has been anonymised to protect her identity.
Broader Programme Context
Shelly’s story is just one example of how the Manchester RISE Up programme is creating meaningful change at MCA. The initiative is designed to improve engagement and attainment in PE for young people by fostering a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment.
Activities like Repeaters, Inclusive Teams, Stress Busters, and Energisers, alongside a self-care wellbeing toolbox, provide opportunities for students to build confidence and belonging, develop emotional intelligence, and create healthy relationships with emotionally available adults.
With a 34% improvement in the School Wellbeing Scorecard and a 63% increase in student wellbeing as measured by WEMWBS, the programme’s impact extends beyond PE lessons. You can read their full case study here.
Its success highlights the potential for similar programmes across Manchester, inspiring more schools to join the movement for student mental wellbeing.
If your organisation or school is interested in learning more about the Manchester RISE Up programme or collaborating on this transformative initiative, please get in touch.
Together, we can create opportunities for young people to flourish.
An Invitation to Manchester Schools and Stakeholders to Join Our Manchester RISE Up Collaboration
We are developing a collaborative network of schools and stakeholders across Greater Manchester who share our vision for supporting student wellbeing through the Manchester RISE Up programme.
If you're interested in joining, please reach out here for more information or complete the School Wellbeing Scorecard, and we will be in touch.
Have a brilliant week, and thank you for all you do to transform the life chances of your young people.
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