David Seward, the CEO of Berkshire Youth recently chatted to the team at the Good Exchange and to Chris Boulton, CEO of Greenham Trust (on his local community radio show) about the impact of COVID-19 on the young people supported by the charity and what they are doing about it.
Whilst the young are least susceptible to COVID-19, concerns are rapidly growing around youth mental health, compounded by the lack of social engagement, the closing down of sports and social activities and the impact on their education and employment opportunities. In a UCL study, the young reported the lowest levels of wellbeing and life satisfaction in lockdown, whilst almost 30 per cent have thought about death recently. UK Youth and the National Youth Agency have also voiced concerns that young people have not been identified as a specific group in need of support at this time.
Berkshire Youth has been serving the young people of Berkshire by delivering youth support services to young people, local communities and parents/carers through youth workers, clubs and groups for over 75 years. Before COVID-19 struck, the charity’s main goal was to help young people who don’t have a place to go to or want a place to go to have access to safe and friendly environments where they can meet other young people, get advice, support and training, volunteer and have new experiences. Whilst the charity is still about engaging those young people who feel they are isolated from everything, how they do it has changed quite significantly in the last couple of months when opportunities for face-to-face and group contact have stopped.
It did take a while for the charity to work out how and where they could adapt, especially as lots of their work is about personal relationships and social interaction with young people. They’ve started some Zoom meetings and some online youth clubs and their outreach workers are doing telephone calls and making contact with young people where they can. They’ve also been working a bit more with the police to encourage young people to keep to the isolation rules, acting as the friendly voice to give advice.
But David and his colleagues across the sector have identified a national concern. With the focus of Coronavirus support on the elderly and those at high risk of infection, who is looking out for our young people? How will social isolation play out in the long term and what will happen going forwards?
To address this issue, Berkshire Youth has moved into a virtual world, launching the West Berkshire Hub (in collaboration with funding partner, Greenham Trust), to deliver telephone and online services to young people, their parents and carers and professionals in West Berkshire and north Hampshire (and helping to make connections and referrals for anyone outside the area with a goal of expanding the service as it becomes more successful). Rather than replacing emergency or other high-risk services, their goal is to make it easier for young people to find what’s available to them online and to get through the maze of different offerings.
It costs money to set up a new service such as this so as well as a grant from the Greenham Trust Coronavirus Emergency Appeal, the charity is fundraising via The Good Exchange.
“We’re concerned about how many young people may be missing out on interaction with others. Not everyone lives in a very supportive house, they might not have a quiet space in their household, they might have to share a computer and they are no longer at school so have lost that safe place to be and place to meet their friends” said David. “For example we’ve got youth workers who can be contacted online and by telephone and we’re already getting contacts from social workers who are asking for the youth workers to contact specific young people. We’re also aiming to put people back together with people they know and trust such as their sports coaches and other mentors and open up networks online.”
“Young people have been forgotten about and authorities have relied on the schools to do something but the numbers expected just haven’t been going into school to take advantage of what’s on offer so many have become more and more isolated. This is just a way to try and reach out a bit further and create a bigger network for young people” he continued.
This lockdown is going to continue for quite a significant time so the team at Berkshire Youth have made some suggestions on things that young people can do when they are feeling the strain:
- Paul – Youth Work Manager: “During a period of uncertainty, the most certain thing is the importance of health. Follow the government advice to remain physically healthy. Try to reduce time on technology and appreciate quality time with your loved ones, be creative and manifest positive thoughts to ensure a healthy mind”
- Sarah – Operations Director: “Fill a jar with all the things you want to do. As restrictions ease, work your way through them. It’s a good way to capture life at the moment”
- Colin – Youth Worker: “I would advocate for young people to have the courage to try new things. The fear of stepping out of one’s comfort zone may seem quite daunting, but with the right help and guidance to just try something once is the start to a changing mindset”
- Sue – Data & Information Officer (providing support on the new WBYH phone line): “Asking for help is not a weakness, it’s about not giving up”
- Kate – Training & Volunteer Development Manager: “‘It’s OK to not be OK – we all have good and bad days but please remember it is OK to not be OK and that it is a strength to ask for help. Please speak to your friends, your family or a youth worker if you are feeling down”
- Gareth – Youth Worker: “Try and keep routine… get up, washed, change out of pyjamas and carry out different tasks each day with goals and achievements. This could be small like school/college work, sorting the garden, helpful contribution to your household and others in it. Stay in touch and stay connected. Know your workers are about, your friends are about. This is tough for everyone so don’t feel down if you’re struggling. Your views are important and they are only known if shared”
- Olly – Youth Worker: “Have a structured sleeping pattern; by having this you are able to have some form of structure to the times you are awake and it allows you to plan what you are going to do for that day and to not get bored. The way to do this is to get a early night one night and be up early-ish the next day. A good sleeping pattern is 8 hours so I would recommend sleeping from 10om to 7am so that you get the full 8 hours plus a little extra.”
- Paige – Youth Worker: “Tough situations build strong people – we will get through lockdown! Stay Safe, Stay at Home and Stay Positive!”
- Debbie – Finance Manager: “Think about having a routine each day. To start it can be as simple as a set time for getting up in the morning”
- Julie – Marketing Manager: “Don’t sit in silence – it’s perfectly normal to have down days and it’s good to talk. It’s a strength to ask for help, not a weakness”
- David – CEO: “At times like this we need to remember to look after the most vulnerable but not lose sight of what is right in front of us. We do not know how long this lockdown will last, or indeed the social distancing, so in the meantime we must not forget the young people and children that are part of our community and families. The old saying that it takes a village to raise a child is so true, but we have removed the village and taken away choice. We need to find ways to encourage young people to still get together (virtually), to get good safe advice and support, to have fun, laugh and joke. For too long the voice of young people has been unheard, so let’s share what resources we know about and find support and kindness where we can. Our youth hub is not the solution for good quality face to face youth work, but is a collaboration of resources.”
Visit the West Berkshire Youth Hub
Tel: 01635 889764
