Help 7,000 Children Beat Exam Stress

                                                                                                                              
                                                       Richard and his son Gabriel talk about their Campaign


I'm sure you know just how bad real stress can be for your mental and physical health and how it can affect all areas of your life.

So just imagine how bad it is for Children who are taking their exams and have never experienced real stress before...

                                                       
                                                                                                      Exam Stress
 
Hi I'm Richard Morley; I was at home, reading at my kitchen table, when I was shocked to hear about children suffering from stress and anxiety caused by their exams...

"Changes to this year's GCSE's have damaged student's mental health, according to a poll by the National Education Union.
...89 percent of teachers believe that changes to the way the GCSE's are assessed have made students anxious and stressed...
One teacher said that two of their students had attempted suicide."

 The Teacher, October 2018: The National Education Union magazine

 
I did some research and was horrified to discover that almost nothing is being done to help these children deal with stress and anxiety.

I'm concerned about this situation because my son Gabriel is taking his GCSE's this year. We want Gabriel do well in his exams, but not at the cost of his mental and physical health and well-being.

I talked to my son and asked him how he was feeling and he admitted he was, "getting a bit stressed out", by his GCSE's, it's a lot of work and he wants to get good grades.

 Luckily for him I teach stress management and I'm the author of a Book on beating stress, so I could help him with his problem. We sat down together and I taught him some simple techniques to deal with stress, which he says have helped him immensely. Sadly most children are not so fortunate. 

That's why Gabriel's helping me with this campaign, because he wants me be able to help more children just like him, to have less stress and anxiety.

"Many of those doing revamped exams report mental health problems and extreme stress... Pupils have delivered a damning verdict on the revamped GCSE's saying they have caused mental exhaustion, panic attacks, crying, nosebleeds, sleepless nights, hair loss and outbreaks of acne..."

The Guardian, Newspaper.

                                                            
                                            Children can't succeed in their exams because they're stressed out                       


Some stress is natural and can be helpful, but too much stress and anxiety over time will seriously affect a child's mental health and well-being.

 The trouble is, the brain sees the exams as a real threat and dumps the stress hormones Adrenaline and Cortisol into the body, preparing you for Fight or Flight. And if no action is taken these stress chemicals build up to dangerous levels, leaving your brain and body in a state of constant emergency prepared for a fight that never comes.

Now, imagine how you'd cope if your Stress and Anxiety levels have been building  for Nine long months, then...

You've spent a sleepless, worry filled night. In the morning you feel sick and can't eat breakfast. At school you stand miserably, waiting to go into the examination room.

 When you walk into the room and sit down at the desk, your mind starts racing and you can't think straight. You're sweaty and pale. You start to shake uncontrollably. With clammy hands, you claw open the exam paper. And try to read the first question...

Suddenly your chest tightens, you can't breathe. You feel like you're dying, it's a panic attack!
This is the grim reality facing too many children in Schools this year.

 “Teachers see very clearly the effect of stress on students and are reporting exam stress among school children from primary school upwards".

Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the NUT teaching union.
  
 
                                                                                       
                                                                                Letting the Children down
 
It's plain to see that our Government is letting thousands of children down. By not providing any stress management training they are allowing these kids to suffer needlessly from stress, anxiety and ill health.

 If the Politicians aren't willing to do something, I believe we have to, so I've created a programme to teach children how to deal with stress. I call it, The Exam Stress First Aid Kit, it has everything they need to get them through the toughest year of their young lives, almost free from stress and anxiety.

 
"Having worked in secondary education for 30 years, the last 8 as an examinations officer, I have seen the problems that exam stress causes children first hand. I think Richard's plan to teach mindfulness and stress management to students is an excellent idea and would really benefit children who struggle with exam stress".

Pauline Hartley, Examinations officer, Wakefield

 
                                                                               
                                                                                The Exam Stress First Aid Kit

     Here's what's in it...

 ·   I teach the children about Stress, so that they understand its causes and negative effects.

 ·   I show them how to recognise the signs of rising stress and anxiety levels in their minds and bodies.

 ·  I share with them the, Red light system. Which helps them to deal with and defuse the stress.

 ·  I explain how to use Visualization and positive Affirmations,
   
 ·   I teach them an effective Mindfulness meditation exercise. So they are virtually "stress free"
     throughout the exam year 

 ·   I teach them how to use the Relaxation response.

 ·  They receive a Multimedia training from me. So they can practice what they've learned at home.

 

 

                                                               A Student reduces stress by practicing Mindfulness

 
I rang Gabriel's School, the Cathedral Academy in Wakefield and talked to Mr Brooke the head of year eleven about the problem.
He's seen how children at his School are being seriously affected by stress and wanted to do something to help them.
I volunteered to come into School to teach my programme to his students and he immediately accepted my offer of help.

I'm pleased to say, I'll be making my first visit to The Cathedral Academy and teaching, The Exam Stress First Aid Kit, to year eleven students on the 18th of December. It's my Christmas present to them :0)

 And I've offered to visit other local Schools, to share my programme with their pupils too.


                                                                                    Richard Teaches Stress Awareness




                                                                                Teaching the Relaxation response



"In my professional opinion Richard Morley's programme, The Exam Stress First Aid Kit, is just what children need to have less stress and achieve Exam Success".

Marta Smith, Psychotherapist


                                                                                     The Children need your help

 I'm making it my mission to Help 7,000 Children Beat Exam Stress, because I want to make a difference to even more children's young lives, but I can't do it without your help.

 I can only spare so much of my time and the Schools whose students need help can't afford to fund me to teach the programme. So I've started this campaign to solve the problem. It's a way that you and I can help these children to succeed in their exams, virtually free of stress, anxiety and ill health.

 We need to raise £9,700, the money will be used for admin and organization costs, traveling around the country to schools, delivering the workshops and making and providing the multimedia resources.

 I know you receive appeals from other good causes, but I  can't think of a better one than our children's mental health and well-being. By supporting this campaign you can feel good knowing that the children's lives will be better for your help.

 Let's try to reach our goal by the 18th of December 2018, because the Children are already sitting their Mock exams and they're Stressed Out. The sooner I can share the training with them, the better they'll be able to cope with the rest of the very Stressful School year ahead.

 
                                                                                                           Updates

I've set up a Facebook page, Help 7,000 Children Beat Exam Stress, where you'll get updates. I'll also post regular updates right here, on the GoFundMe page.


                                                                                                 What you can do Now

Please Click on the Orange Donate Now button, give what you can, no donation is too small and then share the Campaign with your friends and family.

If you can't afford to make a contribution, you can still help our cause by contacting at least five friends; telling them how important this is to you and asking them to help us.
 
You can share the campaign with your friends however you want, but please take the time to share on Facebook, so we'll get maximum reach.

We want to offer you our heartfelt thanks for choosing to make a difference and helping 7,000 Children beat exam stress.

Thanks again,
Richard and Gabriel Morley

 P.S

I want to give you a Gift for helping.

 ·  If you donate £10.00, I'll give you my audio meditation programme, "The 3 minute Meditator".

 ·  If you donate £15.00, I'll give you my relaxation video, "The Release".

 ·   If you donate £20.00, I'll give you both programmes.

 ·  The 10 people who make the biggest donations will receive both programmes and a special, Mystery Gift.

Once you've made your Donation, just get in touch with me and I'll let you have your Gift as soon as possible.


  P.P.S   "If you've read all the way down here you must have donated and shared, so here's a big, THANK YOU !".

  Rich and  Gabe