University of Bolton's Professor of Psychology to take on 180-mile charity walk

A University of Bolton professor is to take on a gruelling trek across the country to help youngsters in the region.

Jerome Carson, Professor of Psychology, will be walking 180 miles from Manchester to Walkingham in Norfolk over eight days next July.

Professor Carson, who is vice-chair of trustees for children's charity MedEquip4Kids, aims to raise £50,000 through sponsorship to fund the charity's Hummingbird Project.

The project makes significant improvements to young people’s mental health and has benefited more than 5,000 pupils in primary and secondary schools across Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.

Professor Carson said: “I have started the fund with a £2,500 personal donation and will be covering all my own expenses on the walk, so that all the money raised will go to the charity.

"We owe it to our children to give them the best possible start in life.”

Based in Manchester, MedEquip4Kids provides equipment and facilities not available from limited NHS resources.

Since 1985, it has raised more than £25m to fund medical equipment, sensory and play facilities in hospitals, specialised equipment for disabled children, and mental health support.

In 2017, after witnessing the alarming rise in mental health problems in children, MedEquip4Kids partnered with the University of Bolton to launch the Hummingbird Project, a six-week programme of workshops based on positive psychology, a field in which Professor Carson is one of the leading experts.

The course increases resilience, happiness and wellbeing by teaching young people concepts such as character strengths, gratitude, kindness, mindfulness, and hope.

The Hummingbird Project is now backed by a research team of academics from the Universities of Bolton and Chester and the Open University.

Each year its evaluations have shown consistent improvements in wellbeing and reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression. MedEquip4Kids plans to expand the project into new regions of the UK, but the charity needs funding to make this happen.

So far, £12,500 has been raised towards Professor Carson's £50,000 target.

To visit the JustGiving page go to www.justgiving.com/page/prof-carson-walks-to-walsingham.