A BOOK aiming to support mental health and resilience for children living through lockdown has been launched.

Furness Education and Skills Partnership (FESP) has launched ‘Living in Lockdown – Our Children Remember’, a mental health resource book for children.

Project funders, Barrow & Millom Primary Care Network, commissioned FESP to project manage the creation of the book to support young people living through the pandemic.

Local schools were partnered with mental health practitioners to capture their children’s experiences through Covid, along with their feelings, their strategies for resilience and their hopes for the future.

Ten schools participated in the project and the children’s work was collated in emerging themes focusing on their understanding of what was happening, how they were affected and their hopes and wishes in adjusting to a ‘new normal’.

Dr Sarah Arun, clinical director of the Barrow & Millom Primary Care Network said the emotional wellbeing of children is a 'growing concern'.

She said: "It became apparent during the first national lockdown that many children were finding the situation difficult and emotional wellbeing was a growing concern.

"This book will be used to help parents, carers and professionals identify how the children they read it with are feeling and offers ideas and suggestions for improving physical, mental and emotional wellbeing."

Caroline Vernon, chair of FESP said: "The project has given voice to the children in our locality and it is hoped that it will help other children at times of challenge.

"It is a book for children, by children and gives an insight into the impact that Covid-19 had on them.

"It is a very positive legacy, created during a very challenging time.

"It demonstrates that children everywhere have worthwhile experiences to share and that if we really listen to them we can help them to help others.

"Many thanks to our partners Barrow & Millom Primary Care Network, CancerCare, Bernardos, CGP and Oxley Group who collaborated with us and gave their support generously to make this project happen."

Copies of the book will be made available to all local schools, through the NHS and to organisations working with children.

For further information on the project or to obtain copies of the book please contact Neil@fesp.co.uk.