What have SiMY been doing to help families during the Covid-19 situation?

Since the start of lockdown SiMY’s staff team have been working hard to remodel as much of their usual programme as possible so that it can be delivered online. This has also involved securing alternative funding for our intern programme, as the existing funding for their usual work outdoors has been suspended.  

To support this online programme, we have also been helping with digital enablement, providing devices, routers and technical assistance to allow as many young people as possible to access activities.  We have also provided each family with an ‘art pack’, containing craft materials  and school essentials like pens, paper etc, which allows our team to add a variety of creative arts ideas into the programme knowing the young people have the required resources to hand. Creative arts activities form an important element of our programme, as they allow young people to discover different ways they can give voice to thoughts and feelings to help with their psychological wellbeing. 

Alongside this, we have been providing financial support to families who have lost income due to workplaces closing down and Universal Credit delays.  We are starting to run out of resources as more people join the “in need of financial help” group due to more businesses shutting down and making decisions to not pay their staff the government money until July.  We have been providing small cash grants weekly to families in this situation, they then send pictures back of the receipts.  We have been doing it this way, rather than providing food parcels,  as it means the local shops they use for groceries do not lose business, and families can buy food they will eat.

In the midst of all this, our small charity has also developed a group to operate as the  “future team”,  trying to anticipate the likely next steps and considering the effects on the community.  With restrictions now potentially remaining in place until nearer the end of the year, we have an increasing focus on supporting the mental health of those whom we are in contact.