We're still potentially a long way from returning to our previous way of life, and it's crucial that we stay healthly - both physically and mentally - during this trying time. We've asked our teams to let us know what they've being doing to look after themselves during lockdown. I like to go outside, walk around, and experience nature. It's been amazing to see the countryside regularly and it's helped give me a sense of normality during this strange time. And while I'm out, I've been listening to music more, catching up with people over the phone, and taking loads…
Media
What we’ve learnt from lockdown
Lifeline's youth work team—collectively known as SW!TCH—works with young people who are at risk of being excluded from mainstream schooling, of having poor mental health, or of being involved in Serious Youth Violence. Traditionally, this takes place both in schools through mentoring and in the community through a programme of positive activities. However, in this 'new normal', schools have been closed and social distancing makes most communal activities unsustainable. But, like we heard last time, our team aren't content to just sit back and wait for lockdown to end – we've been working hard to come up with new ways…
Our tips for outreach and detached work
Daniel Chery, one of the managers of our SW!TCH team, has pulled together his top tips for outreach and detached working. Always work in pairs Ensure you have a current and updated risk assessment Dynamically assess a situation before approaching young people in groups Communicate with the police and local authority to identify hotspots Make sure your team co-ordinate with other providers and share insights – joined-up working is vital Carry around a toolkit for improptu activities, e.g. footballs, rounder equipment, Frisbees, cones, bibs, first aid kit, whistle, PPE, etc. Bring the youthwork and activities to where the young people…
Youth work: averting an oncoming crisis
As we pass our 90th day in lockdown and the government has started to ease restrictions, our youth team – still out and about supporting young people – have started to observe a growing number of young people back out on the streets, along with a general lack of proper social distancing in general. After twelve weeks being stuck indoors, these young people are suddenly finding themselves under less supervision – parents are starting to return to work, but schools have not reopened yet. And we're worried that, after such a long period of boredom, they may turn to less…
ESF 2019-23 Round 3 Funding Opportunity: Gang Prevention
We are currently seeking expressions of interest from organisations to join with us on the following project: This project will support young people who are on the trajectory of serious offending in gangs. It will focus on improving engagement with education and increasing employability, as well as tackling family factors through close work with other support services. The Project will support Participants whilst they are in Alternative Provision, in positive structured activities at other times, and in future education, employment and training (EET) activities for at least eighteen months. This Project will run from Autumn 2020 to June 2023. Key…
Fighting loneliness in lockdown
We approach the end of our second month in lockdown, and maybe the end is now in sight. However, the road back to our old way of working is still a long one, and many restrictions will still have to be in place even after the current lockdown has lifted. One key issue we've been encountering across all our services during this time is of isolation and loneliness. This is, of course, not a new issue by any means – but the restrictions placed on us by 'social distancing' has amplified the impact of loneliness a hundredfold. Many in our…
FaithAction: Loneliness and the power of relationships
Our FaithAction team—a network supporting faith-based and community organisations across the country, hosted by LifeLine Projects—have produced a lot of research around loneliness and isolation in the past year. With the current lockdown situation bringing this issue to the forefront, Jeremy, FaithAction's Policy and Programme Officer, explores some of the ways we can respond to the growing tide of loneliness. Imagine the classic ice-breaker scenario: if you had to leave your house immediately, and could only take one thing with you, what would it be? Emergency situations, whether real or imagined, have a way of bringing things into sharp focus.…
BD CAN: Support and befriending for Barking and Dagenham
BD CAN is a partnership between the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and BD Collective. LifeLine Projects are leading on delivering crucial services to residents of the Valence and Becontree wards, working with the support of LifeLine Church, Harmony Christian Centre, Bethel Christian Centre and Community Resources. As a locality, we have already helped over 100 households. Manisha, who is coordinating our work with BD CAN, gives us an update on the project. BD CAN provides a service to those who need support – this can be picking up medication, going shopping for food, charging electric keys, or just…
SW!TCH Minds: Engaging young people in new settings
Georgia, one of our Youth Workers, explains a bit about our SW!TCH Minds programme, supporting young people with their mental health. Usually, our team would be working with them both during and after schools; now, due to the lockdown, we've taken the opportunity to switch up our methods and reach out to them in new settings. If you had told me seven weeks ago that I'd be spending my afternoon walking around our local parks in the pouring rain, desperately trying to stand as far away from other people as I can, whilst still trying to engage with them... I…
Community: the antidote to COVID-19 isolation
Dear friends and partners across the statutory, voluntary, community and faith sectors, As the coronavirus crisis and lockdown continues, and our daily patterns of work have settled into a new norm, there are many positive things to take from what is a serious—and, for many, fearful—situation. It’s widely agreed that this will be a time of advancement in technology, medicine and science. The virus represents a particular attack on togetherness—community—seeking to plunge people into social isolation. But actually, I think it gives us opportunity to further advance what we at LifeLine Projects have believed and lived for the past 20…
What we’re doing: BD CAN
As part of the BD CAN, a borough-wide initiative co-ordinated by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and BD_Collective, we are helping the most vulnerable by connecting volunteer support with the people who need help. LifeLine Projects, along with other local charities and faith groups—LifeLine Church, Harmony Christian Centre, Bethel Christian Centre and Community Resources—have already helped over 44 of the most in-need local households with door-step drop-offs of food and care packages, medicines, top-up of electric keys, or simply a friendly phone call. We will continue to serve our community in this way throughout the crisis. We anticipate…
What we’re doing: Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham
Healthwatch staff have been pivotal in LifeLine’s response via BD CAN – co-ordinating the vital provision of food and medicines to those who are shielding, vulnerable or self-isolating. The team have moved from the usual face-to-face public engagement work to focus on engagement through various online and remote platforms as well as providing vital local health information to residents by: Keeping the public updated with the latest advice, including access to healthcare services and medicines, via healthwatch.bd on FaceBook and @healthwatchbd on Twitter, and of course, our website. Sending out updates to our members. Answering phone calls from the public…
