It's important that we look after ourselves and talk to each other. Self-care is crucial for us all. Please see below a list of useful websites which can support.
Resources for children
First Aid for Feelings: A Workbook to Help Kids Cope During the Coronavirus Pandemic is a free 16-page downloadable workbook available in English and Spanish and written by a child development expert.
GoNoodle is wonderful! Hundreds of movement and mindfulness videos for you to enjoy.
GoZen! creates online social and emotional learning programs loved by kids ages 5-15, parents, professionals, and schools.
PE with Joe: Join Joe Wicks every morning at 9am for a live workout, for children and adults alike!
Cosmic Kids Yoga has mindfulness, yoga and relaxation activities for children aged 3+
Top Tips from Redbridge Council for keeping young minds active during self-isolation
The BBC Own It app is a new, free app designed to support, help and advise children, in the moment, when they use their phones to chat and explore the online world - particularly useful during this time of school closure.
Supporting your children
Redbridge Educational Psychology Service has a free helpline for all parents across the borough with a professional psychologist on hand to help with any difficulties you or your child is facing during the Covid pandemic. Please click here for the flyer.
Young Minds provides tips to parents on talking to your children about coronavirus.
Kids Inspire have created a number of child-friendly guides to the coronavirus for adults to use.
The Anna Freud National Centre supports young people's mental health during periods of disruption.
Childline's Calm Zone is a toolkbox of activities such as breathing exercises, coping videos, yoga videos and games that can help children feel calm in a period of disruption. Its Mood Journal allows children to track their daily mood. This might be a helpful way for children to balance their mood during a period of uncertainty. It also has a coronavirus lockdown page.
This toolkit provides a wide range of links and support resources to schools, parents and carers to cope with this uncertainty. It is worth a visit.
- NSPCC Coronavirus pages. The NSPCC has published a new section on their website dedicated to concerns around COVID-19.
Support for adults
Redbridge Emotional, Wellbeing and Mental Health Service (EWMHS) have produced an EWMHS-Resources-booklet-.pdf guide to the range of services available to our community. This includes parent support, SEND, bereavement, anxiety and depression.
NHS Every Mind Matters offers advice on coronavirus and mental wellbeing.
Smiling Mind is a mindfulness and meditation site which provides support and guidance on coronavirus.
The Mental Health Foundation provides support for parents and carers at this time, including advice on how to look after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak. There is also a useful page on how best to talk to your children about the situation.
The Blurt Foundation is dedicated to helping those affected by anxiety and depression. It has created an extensive 'Coronavirus Helpful Hub' and published a blog with guidance and reassurance for those who need support.
MIND has a number of advice pages and resource pages for adults relating to coronavirus and wellbeing.
Parenting Pressures: Support
Family Action
Telephone: 0808 802 6666
Text message: 07537 404 282
The FamilyLine service supports people who are dealing with family pressures in a new and innovative way by using a network of volunteers from across the country to support family members over the age of 18 through telephone calls, email, web chat and text message.
Family Lives (previously Parentline)
Call: 0808 800 2222
Family Lives offers a confidential and free helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. The helpline service is open 9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday and 10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday.
Gingerbread Single Parent Helpline: 0808 802 0925
One Parent Families/Gingerbread is the leading national charity working to help lone parents and their children.
Relate Family Counselling: Family Support 01708 441 722 Relate also have a dedicated section on handling the coronavirus situation on their website.
Grandparents Plus Call: 0300 123 7015
Grandparents Plus is the only national charity (England and Wales) dedicated to supporting kinship carers - grandparents and other relatives raising children who aren't able to live with their parents
Domestic Violence: Support
Please click here for details of the Redbridge Council domestic abuse support services.
Bereavement Support
Grief Encounter provide support and advice to families during this Covid-19 situation, with specific advice on supporting bereaved children and young people, telling children when someone has died from coronavirus and how to say goodbye when a funeral is not possible.
