COVID 19 – UPDATE 9: Support for children and young people: 24 April 2020

Imagine this… Partners please can you use your networks and mailing lists to spread the word so that families can be supported through these difficult times.

Helplines – TCDT on 01803 446022 (which runs from 8am to 8pm 7 days a week) and one staffed by Brixham Does Care 01803 857727 (Mon-Fri 9am to 4.30pm). There is an online form which can be accessed at www. bit.ly/torbayhelpline

Torbay Help Hub on Facebook (group)Their website is https://www.torbayhelphub.com/

The website now includes a section for children and families https://www.torbayhelphub.com/familieschildreninfo

The Torbay Help Hub also usefully includes the latest Schools and families update from GOV.UK 23 April 2020

Guidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carersInformation for parents and carers about educational provision for critical workers, school closures, exams, free school meals and home schooling.Change madeUpdated sections on closures, transport, vulnerable children, critical workers and resources. Removed information about Easter holidays.Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for schools and other educational settingsGuidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students.Change madeAdded guidance for children’s social care services during the coronavirus outbreak.Councils given flexibility with free childcare fundingPage summaryCouncils can move free entitlements funding between settings in exceptional cases to meet demand during Coronavirus outbreakChange madeFirst published.

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Manage financial difficulties in your charity caused by coronavirusPage summaryGuidance about coronavirus (COVID-19) related financial difficulties in charities and how to work through them.Change madeFirst published.

Aldi have joined the free school meal voucher scheme: https://bit.ly/2KmtO7J

Activities and Ideas URGENT: Commission possibilities for partners Real Ideas is a partner in the Ambitions programme that has some exciting commissions for a Creative, Fitness, Programming and CAD professional to deliver some online sessions to young people during May and June 2020. Please see the briefs attached to the email with this Update and pass on to anyone that may be interested.

RIO has a very tight deadline for these of next Tuesday 28th April 2020. Any specific questions, please direct them to Sam.spake@realideas.org

News from 0 – 19 Service Torbay New Bite sized daily learning from the BBC launched on 20th April Action for Children, support for parents , including support through coronavirus. Our colleagues at The Children's Society have started the new online therapeutic course

which will develop practitioner skills in supporting parents and young people in a virtual, digital way. We are hoping to achieve some funding from the CCG to support more 0 to 19 Torbay practitioners to do this training.

Public Health England have launched their new campaign 'Every Mind Matters'. Resources and information can be found here. There have introduced a new quiz, 'Your Mind Plan' with top tips and advice tailored to coronavirus.

Get help with technology and remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)Following the announcement by the Secretary of State for Education on Sunday 19 April, laptops and tablets will be made available to help the most disadvantaged young people access online learning and social care services. Young people and families eligible for devices must not already have access to one, and are likely to be in one of the following groups:• Children with a social worker• Care leavers• Disadvantaged children in Year 10, ahead of sitting their GCSEs next yearPlease note that at the time of writing, the guidance for this announcement is being drafted and more information will be available next week.

Action for ChildrenAt Action for Children, we offer a 1-1 online chat service for parents of 0 to 19-year olds. Using our online platform, staff experienced in family support, we answer questions, give advice or reassurance and lend a listening ear to parents in need. In the past, through TALK, we have support families with

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Emotional Wellbeing, Boundaries and Routines, Child behaviour, Sleeping/ eating, Home, Money & Work, Child Development, Special needs, Keeping Children safe, Anger support, Domestic Abuse, Relationship advice and co-parenting.

During the lock-down, families’ needs are changing and evolving. So we are quickly developing andevolving succinct, accurate advice for parents around COVID-19. So far, the Talk service has received queries around:

Co-parenting during the coronavirus Children whose time is split between two parents’ houses What to do if parents or carers are ill The effect of isolation on a family’s finances Whether children with additional needs more at risk of infection How to deal with children’s worries about coronavirus

What we are doing Who: We will train Action for Children staff as well as someone from South West Family ValuesDuration: We will initially run the digital service across Torbay for between 3-6 months, then it will be reviewedHow it works: We advertise using geographically targeted adverts. Staff across the Torbay, Devon, Plymouth and Cornwall could pick up calls from Torbay, Devon & the South West.Local knowledge: Action for Children will quickly create a directory of resources for Torbay, Devon and the South West so the TALK team can signpost and refer families to the best local source of support for them.

Staff training takes place week beginning 20th April and we hope to get the TALK services up and running in Torbay by Mid May.

Livewell South West24 Hour urgent mental health support phoneline open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 01752 435122 for advice and support.Livewell South West, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have now set up a 24/7 urgent mental health advice line that will enable young people, families, carers and professionals to access support when they need during this lockdown period. This is available to all families (They do not have to be open to CAMHS to access this) who are registered with a Plymouth G.P and professionals across the city of Plymouth. The telephone line will be covered by specialist mental health trained staff, who will be able to provide advice, support and sign posting to other relevant agencies.Information for parents and carers:Is your child or the child you are caring for experiencing anxiety, worry, stress?Are they experiencing Psychological or emotional distress?Do you need to talk to someone who can offer support and advice?This service is open to Children, Young People and Parents and Carers

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MIND THE GAPThe film of our recent Imagine This… conference held at Lupton House in February 2019The Keynote speaker is Dez Holmes, Director of Research in Practice. The film is well worth a watch if you're working with young people on the journey from childhood to adulthood - Dez talks from a relational perspective about the specific needs of adolescents and there's much to reflect on here - also great for training:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS8JabDJkEU

Youth Music QuizPut your knowledge to the test with our brand-new interactive music quiz. There are 10 questions, covering popular music from the sixties to the present day. Good luck!Want to run your own music quiz to raise money for Youth Music? You can download a full set of questions and answers here.

ROCK CHOIR ARE LIVE 7 DAYS A WEEK ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE AT 3PM: https://www.facebook.com/TheRockChoir/Link to lyrics given every day. Everyone is welcome, any age, member or not.

Catherine Byrne from Torquay has a box of Lego to give away free to a good home and can deliver. Contact Torbay Community Development Trust for details.

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