St Antony’s pupils help teach lessons of kindness

Young children at St Antony’s RC Primary School in Blackburn are helping to teach others that ‘Kindness Matters’ during November.

The month is being hailed the official month of kindness by John Magee, The Kindness Coach and founder of Kindness Matters, an organisation that provides resources and coaching programmes to encourage an ethos of kindness and love.

John has been working with the education team at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council to develop resources that schools can use to help share simple lessons of kindness.

And budding actors at St Antony’s are the stars of short video clips that bring John’s daily kindness tips to life.

John Magee said:

Treating other people with kindness can leave them feeling better than before they met you. Just imagine what our community would be like if every one of us adopted that mindset!

By involving thousands of young children and their families in the Kindness Matters 30 day challenge during November is going to help us create a tsunami of kindness throughout Blackburn with Darwen.

It’s been brilliant working with the education team at the Council. With their support, I’m confident that by this time next year, we can encourage every school in the borough to take on the 30 day Kindness Challenge.

The children at St Antony’s did a fantastic job of bringing our kindness tips to life – I hope they enjoy watching themselves!

Heather McGowan, Headteacher at St Antony’s RC Primary School, said:

I’m very proud of the children who got involved in the filming of the kindness tips. The Kindness Matters 30 day challenge reflects our whole school ethos and I’m really pleased that our school is supporting John Magee in launching the official month of kindness.

Here at St Antony’s we truly believe that kindness matters. When out in the community, our children are often praised for their attitude, manners and good behaviour – they really do embody the values that the Kindness Matters 30 day challenge aims to teach us all.

The teaching resources have been made available to over 20 local schools who have signed up to making November their official month of kindness.

Schools can use the video clips, with tips of how we can all be more kind to one another, in assemblies or in tutor groups to encourage pupils to embrace the 30 day Kindness Challenge.

Councillor Maureen Bateson, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Education, said:

Being kind to others is a very important lesson in life. The Kindness Matters challenge and the teaching resources that have been developed for schools give our children and young people ideas for how they can look out for others and simply incorporate a little more kindness into their day.

As we strive to make Blackburn with Darwen a stronger borough where everyone is valued and feels welcome, showing one another compassion is one small step we can all take. I’m up for the 30 Day Kindness Challenge this November – are you?

Blackburn with Darwen was declared an official Kindness Community in 2017, when world superbike champion Carl Fogarty joined forces with the Council and John Magee to highlight the Kindness Matters 30 day challenge.

Since then, John Magee has been working with local organisations and schools to embed his kindness ethos to help us build a stronger community in Blackburn with Darwen, with the support of the Council.

Find out more about the 30 Day Kindness Challenge for schools at www.thekindnesscoach.me.