#Chances4Children: Activity packs for young carers during lockdown

The bags were put together by Barnardo’s staff, with items catering for the needs and age of each child or young person.

The wide range of contents included mindfulness colouring books and pens, arts and crafts packs to make dreamcatchers and other items, puzzles, toys, journals and stationary sets, as well as packs for young carers to grow their own flowers.

The wellbeing bags complement other work that has been ongoing by the Barnardo’s service to support the needs of young carers in Lancashire throughout the lockdown. Support has included chrome books provided to help with school work where families may not have had computers, supplying food vouchers for struggling households and providing yoga equipment to help support the wellbeing of young people carrying out caring roles in these difficult times.

Lancashie Young Carers Service supports children and young people in Lancashire who are looking after an adult family member who is ill, disabled, has mental health problems, or is misusing drugs or alcohol by using a whole-family approach and offering one-to-one support to young carers to reduce the impact of caring.

Jenny Ashcroft, Barnardo’s service manager, said: “It was such a pleasure to put together these bags for our young carers, as a treat to thank them for all they do in helping to care for their loved ones, especially during these challenging times. 

“Throughout the lockdown we have kept in close contact with our families, with support adapted in line with shielding and social distancing requirements, and mainly done via telephone, video or online.”

CYP Now's #Chances4Children campaign is giving practitioners, teams and leaders a platform to share the innovative, collaborative and heroic work that is taking place every day to improve the lives of children, young people and families, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

Find out more about CYP Now’s #Chances4Children campaign.