CADAS Young People's Service - News for Teachers and Professionals, April / May 2025
- Paul Kleian
- Apr 22
- 4 min read
Updated: May 1
Would you believe, we are nearing the end of April already and it's time for our second CADAS Young People's Service newsletter of 2025! In this instalment we talk about the impact of stress on children, highlight under-age vaping, welcome a new team member and show you just how easy it is to book a school workshop with us.
Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness Month and the campaign aims to increase public awareness about the causes of stress and the best ways to combat it. This year's theme is 'Lead with Love', encouraging us to approach ourselves and others with kindness, compassion, and acceptance, no matter the challenges we face.
Stress is something we all experience from time to time, and children are no exception. The common causes of stress and anxiety include:
Family disputes
Home environments can be stressful, due to family conflicts or parental separation. Witnessing arguments or experiencing the separation of parents can create a sense of insecurity.
Parental pressure
Some parents set high expectations for their child’s success. This can be stressful, especially if the child feels that love and acceptance are conditional on meeting these expectations.
Financial stress
Children are often keenly aware of their family’s financial situation. Hearing parents discuss money worries can be stressful.
Digital life
Spending excessive time on screens, especially social media, can lead to anxiety. Compare and despair is a common phenomenon, and seeing peers’ highlight reels online can make children negatively assess their own lives and achievements. Being constantly connected also makes it hard to switch off and rest.
Bullying
The impact of bullying can be profound and can conjure intense feelings including worry, fear, hopelessness, embarrassment, humiliation and helplessness. When someone is being bullied it can be hard for them to reach out because they don't want the bullying to get worse or they worry they might not be believed. It's therefore important to look out for signs of bullying and show that you are a trusted adult who will listen and provide the support they need.
Stress around exams and academic performance
The fear of underperforming in exams can be overwhelming. Children often worry about disappointing their parents and teachers or missing out on future opportunities. This pressure compounds as they approach key educational stages like GCSE’s and A-Levels. Managing homework demands can create stress, as some children struggle with time management.
For students facing exams and feeling stressed, the following tips may help to ease the pressure:
Be kind to yourself - reflect on the things you’ve already achieved, in or outside of school.
Talk about feeling under pressure - make it clear if you feel other people's expectations are different from yours. If you feel the stress is coming from home, talk to a teacher you can trust.
Don’t compare yourself to others -focus on what you can do rather than how others are coping. Everyone handles situations differently and they may be feeling the same.
Schedule breaks in revision - making time for enjoyable activities alongside revision can help you de-stress and make revising more bearable.
Make time for friends - stay in regular contact with friends during exam time. Talk to friends about revision and any anxiety you are feeling. This approach can help build a strong support network and serve as a reminder that you’re not alone.
If you are concerned about a child who is struggling with stress or anxiety, first and foremost it's important to talk to them about their feelings. Listening is key - try to show them that their worries are valid and that you understand.
Welcoming Louise Watson - Young People’s Education & Support Coordinator
"Hi, I'm Louise and I'm really excited to be delivering a new project for CADAS called 'Stop the Start'. This includes educational workshops for 11-17 year-olds on smoking and vaping, as well as 1:1 support sessions for any young person that wants help stopping. I will be delivering the project across Cumberland starting in September, so please get in touch if your school or setting would like to take part!
You can email me directly via louisew@cadas.co.uk , call me on
07503 087533 or complete the workshop booking form. Simply select 'vaping' as the topic of interest."
Under-age vaping
Under-age vaping in the UK is becoming increasingly common. In 2023, the proportion of children experimenting with vaping had grown by 50% year on year, from one in thirteen to one in nine (according to a report by ASH).
Our recent blog post Vaping is on the rise – but what are the risks? explores this trend and the risks the habit poses to young people.
CADAS deliver vaping workshops to schools and groups across Cumbria!
Booking a CADAS workshop for your school
At CADAS we believe that prevention is key when it comes to tackling harmful addiction. That's why our Young People's Team work hard delivering our education workshops to schools and groups all over Cumbria.
If you would like to arrange for a workshop to be delivered in your school, we would love to hear from you! Simply visit our School Workshops page and complete the contact form. We will then be in touch to book your session(s).
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