Hungry2Move at Plantsbrook School: Two former Plantsbrook students returned to their old school to help inspire current pupils to live happier, healthier lives.
Romy Ashmore-Hills and Katy Evans, who left the Sutton Coldfield school in 2016, now run Hungry 2 Move, a social enterprise that aims to improve young people’s body image, attitude towards exercise and overall physical and mental health.
And on Tuesday, 21 November, with the backing of Birmingham City University (BCU), they went back to Plantsbrook, which is part of the Broadleaf Partnership Trust.
Romy said: “The students reacted well to the session. They seemed engaged and gave some interesting and thought-provoking answers.”
“It was strange going back, as the school is a completely different building to when we left – but it felt really nice to be able to give something back to the school.
“We both left the Plantsbrook sixth form in 2016, and we have happy memories of the school.
“We both made friends at Plantsbrook who we are still friends with now – including each other – and both have teachers that we remember having a big impact on our confidence and self-belief.
Hungry2Move at Plantsbrook School teach students self-care
Through Hungry 2 Move, the friends organise workshops that use exercise and movement as a self-care tool, switching the focus away from exercising to change how we look, to exercising to change how we feel.
Katie explained: “Studies have shown the decline in the mental health of young people, and this is something we focus on massively.
“We also know that many young people suffer with poor body image which often stops them engaging in physical activity, leading to worse physical and mental health.
“When we were at school poor mental health, body image and relationship to food and exercise were definitely areas many of us struggled in, but it seems to have worsened.
“We think it’s really important that alongside academic study, students can learn about how to develop a healthy relationship to exercise and food, and how to look after their mental and physical health.”
Plantsbrook’s Careers Advisor, Sarah Dullea, said: “We have a great relationship with BCU, and organise a variety of careers-based schemes with the university, but this was a really different event that aimed to help our students think about their wellbeing.
“The fact that Katie and Romy are both Plantsbrook alumni meant that they could really relate to the students’ experiences, and the workshop was a great success.”