Keeping on in crisis

A special 'thank you' video from services and young people who received mental health and wellbeing kits with money from the emergency Covid-19 appeal. 

During lockdown, young people in Bristol got creative and made this video with our Care Leavers service about how they’ve been getting on. 

By using Zoom, Facebook, texts and phone calls to keep in touch, the project workers ensured that the Care Leavers have remained connected. 

During lockdown, she couldn’t see any families face to face but she provided essential support over the phone or using video chat:

“You come off the phone from someone who says ‘I feel a lot better now.’ That makes a huge difference – and it impacts the children in those families because if the parents are not feeling supported and secure they can’t pass that feeling onto the child.”

Learners were at an immediate risk of dropping out of their classes when they were unable to physically attend. Our Crisis Appeal paid for tablets and laptops that enabled them to connect online. 

Shifa is just one of these young people: “I am so thankful for the tablet. I have used it to search for Care Assistant jobs and courses. It’s helped me a lot.”

Along with regular check-ins from project workers, young people like Bailey and Rebecca received items that would support them during difficult months.

Bailey: “I just want to say thank you for the board game and gym gloves. It helped my brother, sister and I spend time together - we’ve been playing the board game non stop since we got it! The gym gloves have helped me exercise and I’ve noticed a huge drop in tension around the house.”

Rebecca: "You lot are seriously amazing, thank you so much. I’ve started on both colouring books, stayed up till 11.45pm last night drawing! It’s really helped me keep calm and given me something to focus on.”

Young people leaving the care system are already at greater risk of anxiety and isolation, and the COVID-19 lockdown only increases that. 

These Life At Home packs ensure that young people feel more at home in their own space, and that they are not entering adulthood alone.

"We wanted our packs to be purposeful, reinforcing the advice we give to families; but also bespoke, adding something special to suit each family’s interests. We thought about gifts that could bring families together with some receiving mindfulness scavenger hunt playing cards to promote sharing and co-operation whilst exploring the sensory environment around them."

One of the parents said: "Dylan said that when he sat by the open back door and coloured one of the pictures in the book it calmed him down from an angry state. They are so excited to get started with all of the resources. Thank you, this is so generous!"