Children 1st Moray seeing pandemic pressure on young people
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A CHARITY says it has seen a rise in Moray young people facing emotional wellbeing challenges as a result of the pandemic.
The local branch of Children 1st, based in Elgin's Northfield Terrace, assists families and children who have been affected by trauma or adverse childhood experiences.
Since July it has been organising beach days for local children after a lockdown spent providing lifeline support for Moray families – such as providing food vouchers and cooked meals, giving money advice and holding video calls.
The Elgin team is made up of six full-time equivalent staff and is currently supporting 90 families in Moray.
Mandy Morrison, from Children 1st Moray, said the service had been finding that local young people were facing increased pressures built up through the coronavirus lockdown.
She said: "This has been due to a variety of factors including strained family relations, financial pressures on families, and a lack of structure and routine due to not travelling to school and the absence of relationships which can act as protective factors within school.
"Right now, our support is giving families the lifeline they need to keep their children safe.
"Children 1st is continuing to be there for children and families in Moray struggling with unprecedented levels of distress and loneliness."
Its summer activities programme is designed to lighten the load for families who have children with additional support needs.
Mandy said: "The programme gives an opportunity for children to build friendships, focus on the emotional impact of moving to high school and helpful ways to resolve their worries.
"The families meet at the beach to explore rockpools and play team games. We provide individual packed lunches for everyone.
"The aim of the days is to promote positive relationships and build quality time for families."
Children 1st Moray has also teamed up with local environmental education charity Earthtime to provide bushcraft activities, and has organised socially-distanced walks and garden sessions to young people struggling with their mental wellbeing.
Mandy thanked players of People’s Postcode Lottery who have raised more than £6.9 million for Children 1st over the last 12 years, which she said had made a big difference locally.
One Moray family faced with financial hardship during lockdown said the charity had been a lifeline by providing them with a food parcel and cooked meals.
The family, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Receiving the food parcel from Children 1st made a big difference as we were getting to the point where we had nothing in the cupboard."
Children 1st can be contacted on 08000 282233 or at www.children1st.org.uk/parentline.
