Schools Wellbeing Challenge 2025

What is the Mental Elf Wellbeing Challenge?

The Mental Elf Wellbeing Challenge is a festive initiative aimed at schools, youth zones, children’s groups and clubs.

It encourages young people to engage in physical exercise, mindfulness, and community activities to promote mental health, while raising funds for York Mind’s vital mental health services and projects across York.

Participants can choose their own challenge and share their progress through social media. The funds raised can be used to support York Mind's work with young people experiencing mental health challenges.

Is your school taking part?

Calling all mini elves! This year we are bringing York's best festive fundraising event to your school!

Teachers, do you want to...

Boost wellbeing for pupils and staff
Bring the school community together
Help children in need across your community
Get your pupils more active and have fun

How does Mental Elf link to the curriculum?

Mental wellbeing is a normal part of daily life, in the same way as physical health. The benefits that physical exercise, time outdoors, mindfulness and community participation can have on mental wellbeing and happiness shows no limits.

The Mental Elf School’s Wellbeing Challenge enables young people to experience the importance of developing resilience and positive mental health through engaging activities and working together to complete a challenge.

How your school can join in.

Join us for the Mental Elf School’s Wellbeing Challenge and you could help change the lives of young people in need of mental health support right across York.

Visit our School’s Challenge hub: Set up your school’s fundraising page
Choose your challenge: Decide with your class which fundraising challenge you would like to do from our list of suggestions or create your own! Don’t forget to fill in the details on your fundraising page and share with parents and pupils.
Grab your best elf outfits: Whether it’s an elf hat, cheery face painting, a head-to-toe costume or your best festive accessories.

You can complete your Mental Elf fundraiser any time in December! Pick a date and time that works for your school whether it’s a dedicated time for the whole school to join together, a PE lesson or a health and wellbeing activity, the choice is yours!

Why is Mental Elf so important?

The funds you raise will help York Mind to provide life changing support to those living with mental health conditions across York, through free and accessible services.

Fundraising challenge ideas for your school

Get active