Ukrainian dog inspires positive wellbeing session at Burghclere Primary School

Burghclere Primary School pupils were treated to a wellbeing session centred on a very important Ukrainian pooch.

The session on Friday, February 3, was put together by Paul Field, a former headteacher who now works with schools and other organisations to promote positivity and wellbeing.

Mr Field’s family housed a Ukrainian refugee named Elena last summer, but she had to leave her beloved miniature pinscher Chilli behind when she fled the war-torn country.

Mr Field has turned Elena’s wholesome relationship with her dog into a wellbeing session called ‘#LiveLikeChilli’ that promotes positivity and encourages people to donate to Ukrainian support groups.

He said: “It feels wonderful to be able to turn something quite horrible into something a bit better and a bit useful and hopeful.”

The session, which was dubbed as “big lessons from the little dog”, taught children to think about the importance of exercise, strong relationships and doing what you love along with several other positive life components.

Mr Field added: “I wanted to do these sessions for free, with the only request being that the school would use it as an opportunity to inspire their children to raise funds for Ukrainian support groups.

“It just seemed to tie up really nicely. There’s the Ukrainian theme and it’s a very current issue that the children are very aware of.

“It’s horrific, and everything we can do to help is great. It also has this wellbeing message, getting something positive out of a very negative situation.”

One pupil has already responded accordingly, creating T-shirts with #LiveLikeChilli on them to raise vital funds. Mr Field has encouraged people to donate whatever they raise to the humanitarian charity John’s Red Bus.

Of his visit to Burghclere Primary, he said: “It was a huge success. The kids were really inspired, really interested and really engaged in it. They were absolutely fantastic.”

Elena has since moved to Poland and has been reunited with Chilli. Mr Field said that having Elena live with him and his family “changed what would have been a pretty nasty news story into a real thing".

He said: “We got on really well and it was a huge success on many levels.”

Mr Field has travelled to Poland to see Elena again and meet her lovable dog Chilli in person.

He said: “He’s like a tiny Doberman who thinks he’s a big Doberman.”

As well as the session at Burghclere Primary, Mr Field has also done one at Bucklebury Primary and has plans to visit more local schools in the near future.

He also wants to adapt and put on the session for adults as well, and he is hoping local organisations reach out to him for more information.

They are run from his company Field Education, which he hopes can eventually grow and become a charity that that provides free wellbeing sessions to schools and community groups.

To find out more about the sessions, visit www.fieldeducation.co.uk or email paul@fieldeducation.co.uk.

You can also call Mr Field on 07801 985556.