From the Teacher Support Network, www.teachersupport.info.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Teacher Support Network has had a long, fascinating and productive history. A traditional benevolent fund a century ago, it has constantly changed with the times in order to best serve what we recognise as the most important profession. 2010 sees the start of an exciting new chapter for our organisation as we begin the second decade of Teacher Support Line.

At the end of last year, we held a reception at the Houses of Parliament to mark the line’s tenth anniversary. It was the first time we have ever held this kind of event, and we were joined by Barry Sheerman MP, Chair of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Schools, Baroness Morris, who helped launch the line when she was Secretary of State for Education and Skills, and Dame Carol Black, the Government’s National Director on Health and Wellbeing. Just as importantly, Zoë Speakman, a teacher who has used the Support Line, and other teachers, heads, friends from the unions and others from across education all attended a night that aimed to celebrate the successes we have had since 1999 in supporting teachers through emotional or practical difficulty and also the massive contributions that teachers make to their pupils’ lives.

Teachers help us to inspire and influence the aspiration and achievement of young people and the professional development of adults. They guide us through the key milestones in our lives and their impact must never be underestimated. They impart the joy of learning and understand that the accumulation of knowledge and a desire to learn are fundamental to our wellbeing. When teachers face times of difficulties in their lives and when the challenges seem insurmountable, Teacher Support Network seeks to reconnect them to the spark of passion and optimism that first brought them into the profession – to inspire their pupils and to make a difference to the communities in which they work.

At the reception, we released a report entitled, ‘Improving wellbeing in education: 10 years of the Teacher Support Line’, and it was fascinating to review how much the organisation has changed, reminding me how lucky I feel to have joined at such a fascinating time. Over the past 10 years, Teacher Support Network has transformed itself – from a small benevolent fund, well respected but used by few - to become a pioneering, not-for-profit organisation that is making a real difference to the lives of tens of thousands of teachers each year.

It is difficult of course for us to entirely celebrate how many people we have helped. Whilst glad to have been able to make a difference to so many lives (we dealt with 15,555 in the 12 months preceding the anniversary), these figures also remind us of the scale of issues affecting the profession. Whether workload, financial problems, stress, anxiety, depression or bullying, every person we help represents many more who are suffering from similar problems.

For many of you, January 2010 will be a new start. The start of a new decade may mean that more than normal you are viewing the beginning of a new year as an opportunity to assess your priorities, reassert your enthusiasm for your jobs and implement whatever resolutions you have made over the Christmas break; whether over an improved diet, more hours sleep, seeking a promotion or getting our finances in order.

Remember we can help; by talking your situation through with one of our advisors via phone or email or using our online resources, such as Stress Test, Wheel of Wellbeing or the InfoCentre, you may find it easier to gain control of your professional or personal life and make improvements to your wellbeing.

As we start the next 10 years of the Support Line, we’ll also be joining you in assessing our direction. We’re determined this year to continue to help more teachers and develop our services to best serve the changing profession over the next decade. We are here for you and your colleagues to help ensure you are successful both at home and at work, and that your wellbeing is protected and enhanced throughout the year. Please spread the word to anyone that may benefit from our services and remember you can make a much-needed donation via our website at www.teachersupport.info

Happy New Year!