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  1. Gloucestershire County Council
  2. Covid-19 Information and Advice
  3. Support for children and families during Covid-19

Support for children and families during Covid-19

Support for children and young people’s mental health

This a tough time for all of us and with such big changes to their lifestyle, children and young people may be struggling with their mental health. For an overview of mental health services available in the county see our mental health services page.

Chat Health is a confidential text messaging service provided by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust School Nursing Team. They offer support on a broad range of health and wellbeing issues including relationships, anxiety, stress, self-harm, body worries etc.

Who is the service for? Young people aged between 11- 19 years.

Access help by:

  • Text 07507 333351 (available Monday to Friday from 9 am - 4:30 pm)

Teens in Crisis (TIC+) provides counselling services for children and young people and their families in the Gloucestershire area.

Who is the service for? Children and young people living in Gloucestershire aged between 9 - 21 years old

Access help by:

Gloucestershire Self-Harm Helpline provides a safe, supportive, non-judgemental and informative space for people who self-harm, their friends, families and carers

Who is the service for? Anyone living in Gloucestershire who self - harms and those who are concerned about them.

Access help by:

ThinkNinja is a free mental health app specifically designed for young people which has been extensively updated with specific COVID-19 support content.

Who is the service for? Young people aged 10 - 18 years old

Access help by:

ChildLine is a free, confidential service for young people in the UK. You can contact ChildLine if you are feeling scared, out of control or just want to talk to someone.

Who is the service for? Young people under the age of 19 years.

Access help by:

The Mix is a free, confidential service for young people in the UK. You can contact The Mix if you need information and advice on mental health and emotional wellbeing to support with lifestyle issues.

Who is the service for? Young people under the age of 25 years.

Access help by:

  • Visit The Mix website
  • Online support chats available Sunday to Thursday 8 pm - 9:30 pm
  • Call 0808 808 4994, available every day from 4 pm - 11 pm
  • Crisis messenger text service - Free 24 / 7 crisis support text THEMIX to 85258

Young Minds is a charity that provides information and advice to help with children and young’s people’s mental health.

Who is the service for? Young people up to the age of 25 years

Access help by:

Shout is a confidential crisis text messaging service available 24 / 7 for anyone feeling suicidal or suffering a mental health crisis.

Who is this service for? Anyone in need.

Access help by:

Anxiety UK is a national charity helping people with anxiety. There are various ways you can seek support and help.

Who is this service for? Anyone is experiencing anxiety.

Access help by:

  • Visit the Anxiety UK website
  • Text 07537 416 905 (Monday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm)
  • Call 03444 775774 (weekdays until 10 pm and over the weekend 10 am - 8 pm)
  • For support and to register for online support group email support@anxietyuk.org.uk

Mind is a mental health charity and has loads of information guides on coronavirus and wellbeing

Who is this service for? Anyone

Access information and support by:

Kooth is a new online digital platform that provides access to self-care resources, information, peer support and access to trained counsellors. It is open to anyone experiencing issues with their emotional wellbeing, such as stress or anxiety and there is no need to be referred.

Who is the service for? Young people aged between 11 - 18 years living in Gloucestershire.

Access help by:

 

Supporting children and young people at home

With most families staying at home here are some links to help with homeschooling and keeping children entertained and occupied in the days and weeks to come.

A parent's tips for home-schooling (YoungMinds)

Parent-of-two Rox explains how she has found juggling home-schooling and work so far and shares her tips for what has helped. 

Here is a list of free information sites and services to help whilst learning at home:

Future Me provides young people in Gloucestershire with the information, advice and help they need to plan for their futures.

For young people with and without additional needs 16+.

Edge Hill University Faculty of Education has collated an extensive list of free resources by subject for families who are homeschooling.

For children in early years, primary school-age children (3-11 years), secondary school-age children (11 - 16 years) and post 16+.

BBC Bitesize is a free online study support for school-age students. Daily online lessons for all ages will be going live shortly.

For children in early years, primary school-age children (3-11 years), secondary school-age children (11 - 16 years) and Post 16+.

Oxford Owl provides free educational resources, activities and eBooks to help children’s learning at home.

For primary school-age children (3-11 years)

E Bug help your child understand bugs and how to prevent the spread of infection

Who this resource suitable for Primary school-age children (3-11 years)

The Maths Factor is an online maths practice service aligned to the national curriculum and is free to access to pupils homeschooling.

For primary school-age children (4 - 12 years)

Twinkl has a wide range of teaching resource packs and interactive activities to help teach English, Maths and Science. All materials aligned to the curriculum aims.

For children in early years, primary school-age children (3-11 years), secondary school-age children (11 - 16 years), Post 16+ and SEND.

Khan Academy has free resources and lessons on maths, science and humanities for learners in Key Stage 1 through to further education.

For children in Key Stage 1, 2 & 3 and 4

Teachit has thousands of resources and materials written by teachers to help teach multiple subjects including Teachit Primary, Teachit English, Teachit Maths, Teachit Science, Teachit Languages, Teachit Geography and Teachit History.

TED- ED has lots of short video lessons for students on a variety of subjects.

For primary school-age children (3-11 years), secondary school-age children (11 - 16 years) and post 16+.

Phonic Play is an interactive site to help children to learn to read, write and spell.

For children in early years and primary school-age children (3-11 years).

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) has lots of free to access resources to support the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.

For primary school-age Children (3-11 years), secondary school-age children (11 - 16 years) and post 16+.

Future Learn has free online courses and degrees from universities or organisations on a wide range of topics.

For secondary school-age children (11 - 16 years) and Post 16+.

Open University Open Learn has free online courses for students from money, health, and education to nature and the environment.

Fot post 16 + students

Education Endowment Foundation - Regular reading can develop children’s language and communication and boost reading skills. The Education Endowment Foundation has created 7 top tips to support reading at home.

The Education Endowment Foundation has produced an infographic to help home - learning reading, by following the TRUST approach it enables parents and carers to talk about anything your child enjoys reading.

Consistent routines are important for behaviour and wellbeing in school and home especially when we have been finding a new normal during this time. The Education Endowment Foundation has produced a checklist to help plan your new routines with your children.

Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning provides information and resources about home learning.

For families with school-age children

Government advice to support the home learning of secondary school children (year 7 to 11) is available from the Dept of Education.

For parents and carers

There are lots of things children and families can do whilst staying at home and distancing themselves from family and friends. Here are a few ideas and suggestions about what you can do​​:

Get reading!

Go on an adventure or start a challenge

  • Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust has lots of challenges and activities to help connect families to nature even if we are all stuck at home
  • Scouts have launched the Great Indoors Challenge and Girlguiding has launched #AdventuresAtHome. Pages have lots of suggested activities and ideas for kids, adults and everyone to get involved with.
  • Go on a minibeast adventure or become an animal photographer via the RSPCA Animal Welfare Activities page
  • Use leaves, bark, twigs, buds, flowers or fruit to identify trees using a free app from The Woodland Trust

Try out some new recipes!

Learn a new language!

  • Rosetta Stone has loads of free resources to learn a new language
  • Learn French, Spanish, Chinese on the BBC
  • Learn how to sign language using a fun online course and resources

Be active from the comfort of your own home!

  • Sports England has loads of tips, advice and guidance on how to keep or get active in and around your home.
  • Change 4 Life 10 minute shake-ups are a great way for the whole family to get active!
  • Joe Wicks The Body Coach is hosting a free PE lesson to wake us up each morning!

Life Skills

  • Natwest MoneySense with fun activities, games and resources that help teach children about money and budgeting at home.
  • LifeSkills, created with Barclays, helps young people get the skills and experiences they need to enter the world of work.

Learn how to code and design your own video games

Get creative!

Explore the world virtually

 

Advice and guidance for parents and carers

Children and young people may struggle with the changes to our lives and their routines brought about by coronavirus (COVID-19). Here are some resources that you may find helpful when explaining to them about the coronavirus and why things are different during the outbreak.

Bereavement Support

Sadly, some families may require bereavement support as a result of the coronavirus. Here are some helplines and resources for families and professionals who are supporting the bereaved. They cover a range of support from talking about the loss of a loved one to managing grief in self - isolation.

Helplines

  • NHS COVID-19 National Bereavement Helpline is open daily 8 am - 8 pm available on 0800 2600 400. The helpline is being staffed by NHS Blood and Transplant registered nurses who are highly skilled and experienced in bereaved people.
  • The Compassionate Friends helpline open daily from 10 am - 4 pm and 7 pm - 10 pm available on 0345 123 2304. The helpline is staffed by trained volunteers who are all bereaved parents.
  • Winston Wish helpline is open Monday - Friday from 9 am - 5 pm available on freephone 08088 020 021. The helpline is being staffed team all have wide knowledge, expertise and up - to - date experience of supporting bereaved children and their families. There is also online support chat available too.
  • Cruse Bereavement Care Helpline is open Monday - Friday 9:30 - 5 pm with extended hours to 8 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Available on freephone 0808 808 1677 or email helpline@cruse.org.uk The helpline is staffed by trained bereavement volunteers, who offer emotional support to anyone affected by bereavement.
  • At a Loss Online Grief Chat is open Monday - Friday 9 am - 9 am. The online chat is staffed by trained bereavement counsellors.

Online Resources

  • Care for the Family has produced top tips guide on how to support people who have become bereaved.
  • The Good Grief Project has lots of advice and information to support families are newly bereaved.
  • Winston Wish has produced a guide to help manage grief in for self - isolation
  • Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has produced a video to help explain to children about the death of a loved one during the pandemic.
  • At a Loss has loads of practical suggestions to help those who have bereaved during the coronavirus pandemic

Parenting support

These are uncertain times that can feel very worrying and overwhelming. Being at home more together can result in practical and emotional challenges including managing children’s more difficult behaviours.

The Family support poster is an easy guide to help you find local support for you and your family.

There is parenting support available during the COVID - 19 outbreak. Some resources and helplines to help you can be found in the links below.

Resources

You can use the Glosfamilies Family and Information Directory to search for services that can help. Access information and support by:

The Institute of Health Visiting has put together some useful links and resources Parenting through coronavirus (COVID-19)

Other resources that may be useful are NHS advice on dealing with child behaviour problems, UNICEF tips for parenting during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and Cbeebies techniques for keeping kids calm

There is advice on parenting teenagers on the Family Lives, Children's Society and Relate websites

The Youth Support Team’s blog on Surviving Families under COVID-19 Lockdown is a guide for families on getting through this time together.

Helplines

Teens in Crisis (TIC+) parent and carer advice and support line

Access help by:

Family Lives offer a confidential helpline service for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life

Access help by:

Young Minds offer support to parents worried about a child or young person's behaviour or mental health.

Access help by:

Parenting children with additional needs

Families everywhere are struggling to care for (and home school) children cut off from their normal routines and activities during the coronavirus crisis. Children and young people with additional needs may need extra structure and support to manage attention and behaviour challenges and keep on track with learning in this challenging situation.

Child Mind Institute has produced a short article to support children with ADHD during the coronavirus crisis

NSPCC has an updated advice page for parents supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Special Educational Needs & Disability Information, Advice & Support Service (SENDIASS) has produced an advice page for COVID - 19 queries.

Access help by:

Gloucestershire Parents and Carers’ Forum is a voice for those with lived experience of being a Parent Carers’.

Access help by:

Inclusion Charter for Gloucestershire. Working together to deliver inclusion in education for all Gloucestershire children and young people.

Access help by:

Special Needs Jungle provides parent-centred information, news, special needs resources and informed opinion about SEND.

Contact is an independent charity for families with disabled children.

Access help by:

Independent Provider of Specialist Education Advice (IPSEA) has prepared a list of FAQs on how the COVID-19 measures will affect children and young people with special educational needs.

SOS SEN Helpline is an independent charity helping parents/carers of children with SEN and disabilities.

Access help by:

  • Visit the Facebook page
  • Phone: 0208 538 3731 (Monday to Friday 9:30 - 12:30 and 2 - 5 pm, Tuesday evening 8 pm - 10 pm and Wednesday evening 8 pm - 10 pm)

There is support available during the COVID-19 outbreak to support parents’ mental health. There is no need to suffer in silence and be alone during this time. Here are some useful links to find support. For an overview of mental health services available in the county see our "mental health services page".

Qwell is a new online counselling and wellbeing service for adults in Gloucestershire. Anyone over 18 experiencing issues with their emotional wellbeing, such as anxiety, low mood or stress can now access free anonymous counselling from qualified counsellors via an online chat-based platform. There is no referral needed from a health professional, no waiting lists, and no criteria to meet to get support.

Gloucestershire Counselling Service remains open and continues to offer affordable counselling online via telephone and video call. You can self-register via the website for adults, children, young people and family counselling.

Support for Mums

Support for Dads

Support with issues such as domestic abuse and safeguarding

Domestic abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial. If you're experiencing domestic abuse or you think someone else is, please tell someone. Having to spend so much time at home can be frightening for adults and children who experience domestic abuse. Please know that the police and partners are here and can help.

If you need help, are concerned about someone or want to tell us something, visit www.gloucestershire.police.uk, call 101, or in an emergency always call 999.

Helpful links:

​​Illness and injury

With children at home over the coming weeks parents and carers can be assured that the NHS is still there for all illness and injuries and should still be accessed if they have concerns about their babies and children.

Parent tips advice sheets from The Institute of Health Visiting

There are advice sheets under the Minor Illness and Reducing Accidents section of the iHV Top Tips for Parents webpage.

Internet safety

With children now staying at home to protect themselves and others from coronavirus, digital technology is playing a bigger role than ever before in helping them to learn, play, and stay connected to each other and family members. Some suggestions on how your family can stay safe online can be found in the links below.

  • Digital 5 a day guide is easy to follow practical steps for children and parents to achieve a healthy and balanced digital diet
  • Digital safety and wellbeing kit provides useful tips and guidance to help protect your child on a range of issues including video calling, how to ensure your device and web browser are set up and updated correctly and tips regarding best practice with your username and passwords
  • NSPCC provides tips and advice on online safety. NSPCC Learning has also pulled together resources to help keep children and young people safe during the coronavirus crisis.
  • Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning provides information and resources to keep children and young people safe online.

Physical activity for children and families

​​We're all now spending a lot more time at home than we might like, which is why staying as physically active as possible is more important than ever. There are lots of fun and creative ideas on how to get active at home and make the most out of the fresh air during your daily walk, run or cycle.

Some suggestions on how your family can stay active can be found in the links below.

Feeding the family

Providing healthy nutritious meals for your children on a budget or are looking for new ideas and inspiration. Some suggestions on how your family can eat healthily and enjoy some tasty food from breakfast to lunches to even picnics at the weekend can be found in the links below.

Keeping Young People Safe

There is Government guidance for young people on social distancing.

Childline has a lot of information and advice aimed at young people to help them feel more informed and in control.

Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning has lots of advice and resources for parents, carers and families to help young people manage risks associated with topics such as alcohol, online gaming and relationships.

Talk to Frank gives honest information about drugs

There is information on the NHS website which can be used to inform and support conversations about sexual health.

Sexwise has information about getting sexual and reproductive health help during COVID-19. The site also provides a lot of advice and information about topics such as contraception, pregnancy and STIs.

Healthy Lifestyles Gloucestershire offers support to 12 to 18-year-olds and adults to stop smoking. People can refer themselves for support by calling 0800 122 3788 or completing by a referral form via the website. Alternatively, they can be referred by a health professional or key worker.

Face Masks

Face coverings should be worn in some enclosed spaces to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. You can find out more about the Government guidance on face coverings at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-safe-outside-your-home/staying-safe-outside-your-home
Face coverings should not be used by babies and children under the age of three years or by people who may find it difficult to manage face-covering correctly.

It is important to use face coverings properly and wash your hands before putting them on and taking them off.

A face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by healthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment. These should continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against risks in their workplace, such as health and care workers, and those in industrial settings, like those exposed to dust hazards.

You can make face-coverings at home. The key thing is it should cover the mouth and nose.

For information and advice on COVID-19:

Dental and Oral Health

Oral health is an important aspect of a child’s health status. Tooth decay is the most common oral disease affecting children and young people in England, yet it is largely preventable. Tooth decay can cause problems with eating, sleeping, communication and socialising and being absent from school. With dentists reopening in the next few weeks, here are some suggestions to help your children take care of your teeth and develop healthy habits early.

  • NHS looking after your infant’s teeth
  • British Society of Paediatric Dentistry has produced a series of short videos with Dr Ranj and Supertooth on how to care for teeth of children of all ages.
    • Video on how to care for teeth of children aged 0 -3 years
    • Video on how to care for teeth of children aged 3 -6 years
    • Video on how to care for teeth of children aged 7 +
  • Change 4 Life Top Tips to Teeth for children aged 0 - 6 years and a helpful toothbrushing calendar guide
  • NCT Breastfeeding and Dental Health
  • Try the sugar calculator to check how much sugar there is in some of your children’s favourite products
  • You can see how to find an NHS dentist at https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/

Building a strong relationship between parents and their new baby will give them the best possible start in life, and will help them to grow up happy and confident. Some advice and information on setting up the foundations for a close and loving relationship can be found by downloading UNICEF’s free leaflet Building a Happy Baby.

Keeping your baby safe and healthy

Coping with infant crying

During this challenging time, stress levels at home may be increased. There is guidance for coping with crying on the ICON website

  • Infant crying is normal and it will stop! Babies start to cry more frequently from around 2 weeks of age.
  • Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop. Is the baby hungry, tired or in need of a nappy change?
  • It’s okay to walk away if you have checked the baby is safe and the crying is getting to you. After a few minutes when you are feeling calm, go back and check on the baby.
  • Never, ever shake or hurt a baby. It can cause lasting brain damage and death.

Speak to someone if you need support such as your family, friends, Midwife, GP or Health Visitor

NHS information on soothing a crying baby

Breastfeeding and infant feeding

Breast milk is tailor-made for your baby, free, and always available. It also offers protection from infections and has other health benefits too. Find out more about the many benefits of breastfeeding and answers to other breastfeeding questions on the Start4life website.

Government guidance provides some advice on breastfeeding while infected. At the time of writing, there is no evidence showing that the virus can be carried in breastmilk, the well-recognised benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of coronavirus through breastmilk.

If you are infected with the virus, the main risk of breastfeeding is close contact between you and your baby, as if you cough or sneeze, this could contain droplets which are infected with the virus, leading to infection of the baby after birth.

A discussion about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding should take place between you and your family and your maternity team.

This guidance may change as knowledge evolves.

When you or anyone else feeds your baby, the following precautions are recommended:

  • Wash your hands before touching your baby, breast pump or bottles
  • Try to avoid coughing or sneezing on your baby while feeding at the breast
  • Consider wearing a face mask while breastfeeding, if available
  • Follow recommendations for pump cleaning after each use
  • Consider asking someone who is well to feed your expressed breast milk to your baby.

If you choose to feed your baby with formula or expressed milk, it is recommended that you follow strict adherence to sterilisation guidelines. If you are expressing breast milk in the hospital, a dedicated breast pump should be used.

You can find more information at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists website’ and UNICEF - Infant feeding during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Support with infant feeding

Formula Milk

If you are finding it difficult to get hold of infant formula, it is available in some smaller shops and pharmacies as well as in larger supermarkets.

Healthy Start vouchers can be used to buy infant formula as well as fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables.

There is more information in the Infants and Pre-school Children section about the Healthy Start scheme.

Jaundice in newborn babies

Jaundice is very common in newborn babies. Jaundice reaches its peak at about four days of life and then gradually disappears in most babies by the time they are two weeks old. Jaundice does not necessarily mean your baby is ill. Jaundice is caused by your baby having an increased level of a yellowish substance called bilirubin in their blood. It is important that jaundice is monitored to ensure that the bilirubin level does not get too high.

The Children’s Liver Foundation has produced the following resources for parents and carers:

Support for Dads

DadPad is an information pack in digital form developed by dads, for dads to help fathers of all ages in Gloucestershire prepare for family life. This is particularly relevant in a time when access to parental education classes and midwife appointments have been changed or curtailed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The app covers a range of issues, such as how dads can support mums who are breastfeeding, the anxiety and frustrations that come with parenthood, as well as hands-on advice on issues like nappy changing. Its aim is to provide new fathers across Gloucestershire with guidance on how to develop the mindset, confidence and practical skills needed to meet their baby’s physical and emotional needs.

In addition to general advice, the app is designed to help partners cope with theirs and their partner’s mental health problems during pregnancy and in the period following the birth of a baby.

DadPad can be downloaded for free by going to the App Store or Play Store, and entering a Gloucestershire postcode when prompted.

Healthy Start scheme

The Healthy Start scheme is continuing to run during the COVID -19 outbreak.

Eligible applicants can get free vouchers every week to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and infant formula milk. These can be redeemed at retail outlets registered with the Healthy Start scheme which includes many independent local shops and pharmacies.

New legislation has been passed so applicants do not need a midwife or health visitor to sign the Healthy Start vouchers application form.

Immunisations for Babies and Children

While coronavirus has put limitations on all our lives, it is important that you or your baby or child still have routine vaccinations. They protect against serious and potentially deadly illnesses and stop outbreaks in the community. We recommend that you keep your next scheduled appointment – see www.nhs.uk/vaccinations for details on when they are due.

 

Travelling to and from your appointment

When travelling to and from your appointment, please follow guidelines which include travelling by car, bike or on foot if possible, keeping a safe distance from others and washing your hands regularly. For more details, go to www.gov.uk and search ‘staying safe outside your home’.

 

When attending your appointment

A range of measures will be in place to minimise any risk of COVID-19 during your appointment:

  • social distancing measures will be observed;
  • we may have asked you to attend your appointment at a clinic that is not at your usual venue;
  • the appointment may take longer than usual.

Due to the ongoing response to COVID-19, a reduced number of appointment slots may be available. If you choose not to attend your appointment, please contact your GP practice. It is always helpful to know about your concerns in order to provide help where possible. If you still don’t wish to attend the appointment, it can be offered to someone else.

You must NOT attend an appointment if you or any member of your household are suffering from any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or are self-isolating. If this applies to you, please contact your GP practice so that you can reschedule your appointment for a different time.

 

Getting your child ready to start school

Helping your child get ready for school is very important and how parents/carers do this really matters especially whilst children may no longer be able to attend playgroups, nurseries and other settings. Here are some resources that can help.

Mindfulness for children

Your Mindful Garden is available for free as part of the CBeebies Go Explore app. It gives children three daily activities to complete, each one addressing a different aspect of mindfulness: focus, creative and calm.

Top Tips to manage a child’s return to nursery or other childcare settings

Period Poverty

There are some organisations that can provide free sanitary products for people in need.

If you are struggling to afford sanitary products, you can request help via Gloucestershire’s Community Help Hub. Please click on ‘I need help’ to enter your request. You can ask if there is a way to get free sanitary products via the ‘Is there anything else you need help with’ box.

ChatHealth - Health and wellbeing support for 11 - 19-year-olds

ChatHealth is a confidential way 11-19 years olds can have a text conversation with a school nurse about any health issue or worry they have. When schools are shut and students do not have access to their usual pastoral support, this service can help to allay anxieties and emotional distress.

TEXT 07507 333 351 or visit the school nurse webpage

Create Writing Workshops - Letters from Lockdown

Coram is working with the Royal Literary Fund to offer a series of FREE online creative writing workshops for 16 to 25-year-old care experienced young people.

Sessions will start on 5 May and end on 9 June. The workshops will be taking place via Zoom 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm.

For more info and to sign up, please visit the Coram website

Information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Public Health England and e-Bug): To support best practice among school children, e-Bug has created a centralised resource for anyone to access free guidance, information and educational resources.

Free school meals

Families with children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals can continue to submit applications during the COVID outbreak. If your household income has changed recently you can check if your child is now eligible for Free School Meals. Please visit our website where you can apply online.

Transitioning to Secondary School

Moving from primary school to secondary school is an exciting time of life but for many children, it can also be a daunting prospect. Here are some resources that can help you get ready for the transition.

  • BBC Bitesize has advice and information that can help families to prepare for the move to secondary school.
  • Watch the Find your Feet film made by Young Minds that explains that you are not alone when it comes to worries about secondary school, that there are ways to cope with change and there are people to talk to when things get difficult.
  • The Oxford Owl has advice on getting ready for secondary school and settling into secondary school.

Lockdown Guide to Life

The Youth Employability Service has produced a Lockdown Guide to Life which has ideas to keep young people happy and healthy and to help keep their minds occupied during lockdown.

Coping with the end of school in lockdown

With schools suddenly forced to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many young people didn't have the end to their time at school they were expecting. Ella, 18, shares what this was like for her and what has helped her cope with the sense of loss.

Here are some translated resources and links to help your family during the coronavirus break. These will be updated regularly.

 

Covid Specific Resources

  • Gloucestershire County Council  have produced a range of resources and links for BAME Communities Support Page
  • Spark and Co have a Covid-19 resource hub for BAME communities
  • South Asian Health Foundation has a range of resources and links about Coronavirus in South Asian languages here.
  • Doctors of The World have also published COVID-19 guidance for patients in a number of languages (and continue to add more). The guidance is based on the government's advice and health information and was produced in partnership with the British Red Cross, Migrant Help and Clear Voice. The documents can be found here.  Translated audio guidance on COVID-19 has been updated by Doctors of the World on  their website

Maternal health and babies

 

Early years and school aged children

  • Solihull Parenting has produced loads of parenting and family resources on child development milestones, playtimes, brain development and behaviour for non – English speaking families.
  • Covid – 19 parenting tips and activities available in 90 languages, see here.
  • To help children aged 6-11 cope with coronavirus, 50 humanitarian organisations have produced a children's storybookavailable online and as an audiobook in 24 languages here
  • AGuide on Coping Strategies in Anxious Times, produced by The Traumatic Stress Service in Bristol includes practical advice and translated into 13 languages.

Families Mental Health

Asylum Seeker and Refugee  Families Support

Gloucestershire Asylum Seeker and Refugee support purpose is to provide support to asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants. Provide a  ‘safe space’, activities, refreshments, relationships; information, advocacy & advice on health, housing, benefits, immigration, law, education, career; Counselling provision for those suffering the effects of trauma; access to other agencies; food, toys, furniture, household items & bedding. All queries are treated in confidence.

 

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