Coming Out Of Lockdown: The Child Mental Health Cost And What We Can Do About It

We’ve been warned about it, we’ve seen it coming, maybe we’ve experienced it in our own family situation, but now the evidence is all too clear and stark. We might be coming towards the end of lockdown restrictions, ‘Freedom Day’ as some seem to like to call it, but we are only just fully understanding … Continue reading Coming Out Of Lockdown: The Child Mental Health Cost And What We Can Do About It

Left Behind – Children With Additional Needs As We Emerge From The COVID-19 Pandemic

As part of its ongoing research partnership with Pears Foundation, the Disabled Children's Partnership (DCP) of which I'm a member, surveyed roughly 300 parents in June 2021 in our final survey as part of the series. I had the privilege of being one of those parents. The findings, released today, reveal that whilst the rest … Continue reading Left Behind – Children With Additional Needs As We Emerge From The COVID-19 Pandemic

Leaving Lockdown: Learning To Listen To Each Other, Our Children, And Ourselves

We are surrounded by noise, whether it is the noise of people around us, the constant noise of technology, the noise of kitchen appliances, the noise of cars and trucks, emergency vehicles, planes and trains. There is noise everywhere and perhaps that is one reason why we've become less good at listening… listening to each … Continue reading Leaving Lockdown: Learning To Listen To Each Other, Our Children, And Ourselves

Ohana Means Family. Family Means No One Gets Left Behind Or Forgotten.

As lockdown restrictions gradually ease, in line with Government guidance, churches across all four nations of the United Kingdom are beginning to put serious thought into what this means for the opening of church buildings and the resumption of in-building activity, including children’s and youth work.Over the past year, some children’s and youth work has … Continue reading Ohana Means Family. Family Means No One Gets Left Behind Or Forgotten.

The Longest Lockdown – A Report From The Disabled Children’s Partnership

Research from the Disabled Children’s Partnership exposes that most disabled children still cannot access life-changing health appointments and vital therapies as a result of lockdown. This cannot go on, and there are calls for a COVID-19 recovery plan for disabled children. Disabled children deserve better. The Disabled Children’s Partnership research exposes a huge gap in … Continue reading The Longest Lockdown – A Report From The Disabled Children’s Partnership

Are You Feeling Exhausted?

We will soon be at the anniversary of the beginning of the first COVID-19 lockdown, which began with Boris Johnson’s address to the nation on the 23rd March 2020. A year on, and still in the third lockdown, every day seems the same; many of us are feeling a weariness, an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. It … Continue reading Are You Feeling Exhausted?

Looking After Mental Health During Lockdown

The first case of COVID-19 was reported in the UK on 31st January 2020, an unfortunate anniversary that is rapidly approaching. While, rightly, the key focus at this time is the continued battle against the Coronavirus pandemic, there is another dangerous health crisis developing which has the potential to last for very much longer and to … Continue reading Looking After Mental Health During Lockdown

Lost In Lockdown Again? How To Keep On Supporting Children With Additional Needs.

We’re back in lockdown again, schools are closed to most children again, many families of children and young people with additional needs are struggling again. It’s like we’re in a recurring lockdown ‘Groundhog Day’, but there are things that families as well as churches can do to help everyone to be able to cope better, … Continue reading Lost In Lockdown Again? How To Keep On Supporting Children With Additional Needs.

Lost In Lockdown: Left Behind

It’s been over six-months since lockdown started, and although for some there is the beginning of a return to some kind of normality, schools going back, offices opening up, for others lockdown continues like some never-ending groundhog day. With the pandemic seemingly entering 'Phase 2' now, things look like they could get harder again.Even for … Continue reading Lost In Lockdown: Left Behind