Long term support needed to stop Covid-19 damaging a generation

A generation of children are going to need support to help them cope with the effects of bereavement and loss long after the Covid-19 crisis is over, says children’s charity Barnardo’s.

That is the message from Barnardo’s on the day it launches its latest TV advert in its Believe in Me campaign, highlighting the importance of support services for children and young people who have experienced bereavement, loss or grief.

The charity says many children are facing a new reality after lockdown. In many cases, they have lost a loved one, lost the chance of opportunities they were about to take up or lost their normal support systems. 

In the advert, to be aired from 24 September, a computer generated crow symbolises the feelingsof loss and grief a young boy experiences from losing his mum, before receiving support from a Barnardo’s counsellor.

Before Covid-19, official statistics showed one in 29 five to 16 year olds had been bereaved of a parent or sibling – that’s at least one child in every average class.

Data is not yet available to show how much this number has increased due to Covid-19. But as of 1 September, 41,504 people had died within 28 days of being tested positive for COVID-19 – somany more children and young people will be experiencing bereavement.

Some communities will be especially impacted, particularly those at higher risk of becoming seriously ill or dying from the virus, such as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities or those living in areas of high deprivation.

A survey of Barnardo’s frontline staff foundapproximately four in five (81%) are supporting someone reporting an increase in mental health issues due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Barnardo’s Cymru has called for urgent extra funding to set up family support hubs in partnership with schools, particularly in areas hardest hit by the pandemic.

Sarah Crawley, Director of Barnardo’s Cymru, said: “Schools have a huge role to play in the rebuilding of communities but they will need support to cope with the increased demands on them.

“We believe investment in multi-agency working will be the key to success and want to see a comprehensive package of early intervention and support for not only children but their parents too. It is important that the whole family is helped with emotional wellbeing and resilience.

“At Barnardo’s we believe that with the right support all children can recover from trauma and work towards a positive future. We provide this support in our Beyond the Blue service in Neath Port Talbot and our Family Wellbeing Service in Cardiff, but this sort of help should be available in every local authority in Wales.”

The charity is also appealing to the public for support as many of its usual fundraising streams have been affected by the pandemic. “Now more than ever we rely on the support of our friends and partners, and the generosity of the public, to continue our vital work,” said Mrs Crawley.