Hulme Grammar School has officially opened The Victoria Channing Centre for Pastoral Care and Wellbeing . . . a flagship new facility designed to provide wrap-around support, resilience building and mental health initiatives for pupils, staff, and the wider Oldham community.
The official launch on Friday coincided with World Mental Health Day, with pupils and staff across the school taking part in the YoungMinds ‘Hello Yellow’ campaign to raise awareness and vital funds for youth mental health.
The Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Pam Byrne, attended the school to perform the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Named in memory of former pupil Victoria Channing (Class of 1966), who left a generous legacy gift to the school, the Centre brings Hulme’s pastoral care into everyday action through practical life skills, peer mentorship, and trusted community partnerships.
Alongside the ribbon-cutting, Hulme Grammar School is delighted to announce two major founding partnerships:
· Inaugural Academic Fellow: Former pupil, #1 Sunday Times best-selling author, and co-host of the High Performance Podcast, Damian Hughes, joins the Centre as its first Academic Fellow. A specialist in organisational psychology and high performance, Hughes will collaborate with the Centre to share research-backed insights on mindset, psychological safety and healthy team dynamics with pupils and staff.
· Founding Industry Partner: Hayhurst & Co, an education consultancy founded by former Hulme pupil Vicky Hayhurst, joins as the Centre’s first Industry Partner. Hayhurst & Co is funding certified Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) accreditation for Sixth Form Student Ambassadors, as well as sponsoring free annual CPD workshops on mental health for teachers across local schools in Oldham.
Kirsten Pankhurst, Principal at Hulme Grammar School, said: "Today marks a transformative moment for Hulme Grammar School.
"The Victoria Channing Centre embodies our firm commitment to 'wellbeing beyond grades', ensuring that every pupil develops the self-understanding, balance, and resilience needed to navigate the modern world.
"We are profoundly grateful for Victoria Channing's lasting legacy, and we are honoured to welcome the Mayor of Oldham to cut the ribbon, alongside announcing our inspiring partnerships with Damian Hughes and Vicky Hayhurst."
Damian Hughes (pictured above), Academic Fellow of the Victoria Channing Centre, said: "Joining Hulme Grammar School as the inaugural Fellow of the Victoria Channing Centre is a true privilege.
"In organisational psychology and high performance, we know that people only thrive when they feel supported, understood and psychologically safe. The Centre’s proactive approach provides pupils with practical tools for life and I am excited to support the school in embedding these principles at the heart of daily education."
Vicky Hayhurst (pictured above), Founder of Hayhurst & Co and Industry Partner of the Victoria Channing Centre, added: "As a former pupil, I am immensely proud to support the launch of the Victoria Channing Centre.
"Mental health support should never stop at the school gates. By funding Youth Mental Health First Aid training for student ambassadors and bringing free CPD workshops to teachers across Oldham, we hope to create a ripple effect of positive mental wellbeing throughout our entire local community."
You can find out more details about the Victoria Channing Centre for Pastoral Care and Wellbeing visiting Hulme Grammar’s website: hulmegrammar.org/victoria-channing-centre-for-pastoral-care-wellbeing/
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