BRADFORD’S Children’s Board has met to look at ways partners in the district can respond and support children and young people in the recovery from the impact of Covid-19.

The Board, which includes representatives from the Council, health, the police, education and the voluntary sector, looked at how a range of issues currently affecting young people have been further impacted by Covid-19.

These issues include school closures, mental and emotional health, and skills and employment. It heard about a number of key initiatives that were being put in place to support young people.

The new online mental health service Kooth has now been up and running for eight months and has been supporting children and young people during the crisis. It has meant that young people can easily find a range of services and has meant that they can also register and speak to a counsellor about their mental health.

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Feedback from young people on the service has been overwhelmingly positive.

The board also heard about the arrangements that have been put in place during the pandemic to provide online support for care leavers and other vulnerable children.

The Board heard about the risks of young people finding it difficult to find work in the post Covid-19 economy. Bradford Council and partners are working to scale up the service for young people to offer additional advice and guidance, job ready training, and access to apprenticeships. The Council has also spoken to national government to raise concerns about possible youth unemployment and make suggestions as to programmes of action to address this.

The Board also heard from Born in Bradford who shared the early findings of research they have done with families during lockdown.

The research highlighted the pressures that some families have been under, with increases in domestic abuse reports and in families who have financial worries.

The findings will help the Board and partners in their future planning and their response to a wider recovery plan for vulnerable children and families. Partners will also be looking at plans to address other wider issues, such as the drop in immunisation rates among children.

Councillor Adrian Farley, Portfolio Holder for children and families and Chair of the Children’s Board said: “It is clear that the impact on Covid-19 has been, and will continue to be, considerable for all children and young people in our district.

"It is also clear that the impact of missing school and isolation has had the biggest impact on our most disadvantaged children. It is so important that we work together with our partners to plan a response that puts the steps in place that will help children and young catch up and thrive in the best way possible during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.”