This year Taskmaster Education are again teaming up with children’s mental health charity, Place2Be, for Children’s Mental Health Week from 5-11 February 2024.
Taskmaster, the television series hosted by Greg Davies and starring (and created by) Alex Horne, sees celebrities pitted against each other to complete tasks. Taskmaster Education takes elements of the show and uses them to inspire, engage and teach children and young people. Tasks can be adapted to meet any desired aims that the teacher might have, whether they be curriculum-based or more to aid the child’s social and emotional development.
The partnership between Place2Be and Taskmaster Education is an exciting opportunity to play Taskmaster across the country with thousands of children at the same time.
In the lead up to Children’s Mental Health Week, former Taskmaster contestants are competing against Place2Be celebrity ambassadors in a bid to do the most impressive with a Taskmaster staple, the classic rubber duck. So far, Ed Gamble has taken on actor, Adam James, with Sophie Duker competing against CBeebies presenter, Evie Pickerill. Mark Watson will also soon be taking on CBBC presenter, Rhys Stephenson.
During Children’s Mental Health Week itself, Taskmaster Education will be setting a task for anyone to get involved with on Express Yourself Day (Friday 9 February) and schools, families, youth clubs etc can be the first to access the task by signing up to Taskmaster Education’s Mailing list at https://taskmastereducation.com/sign-up. Task entries (submitted across Taskmaster Education’s social media platforms or directly at info@taskmastereducation.com) will need to be received before Sunday 11 February to be in with a chance of winning points from Little Alex Horne himself.
By engaging with Taskmaster Education’s approach to learning, children develop important life skills such as teamwork, problem solving, communication, lateral thinking and resilience, while pupil wellbeing is supported and developed by making school more fun. Working as a team improves a child’s sense of belonging, and the varied nature of tasks means that it’s not always the same (sporty or academic) children who do well. Everyone has the chance to play their part, feel involved, and succeed.
Children’s Mental Health Week was launched by Place2Be in 2015 to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. Now in its tenth year, Place2Be hopes to encourage more people than ever to get involved, spread the word, and raise vital funds for children’s mental health.