You can also visit our Live Well B&NES Facebook page for more information and ideas. We are also sharing lots of information, potential opportunities to engage with and helplines on our Youth Info B&NES Instagram.
Looking after your mental health and wellbeing
Many services and groups are running face to face sessions currently. You can find details of these organisations and many more support services on our Young People's Information pages.
Advice for young people to help with their mental health during the COVID19 pandemic from Anna Freud, National Centre for Children and Families.
Coming to terms with school changes linked to Coronavirus - a guide for year 6 pupils.
Coming to terms with school changes linked to Coronavirus - a guide for year 11 pupils.
Young Carers
At the current time, the Carers Centre are unable to offer any face to face groups and activities, however they are still available over the phone on 01761 431388 and can online to offer support to young people.
Training, skills, and learning
Bath College continue to offer a range of distance learning courses at the moment.
The Skills Toolkit is an online learning platform supporting anyone wishing to learn new key skills whilst they are being furloughed or without employment,
Achieve in B&NES provides a job and course search service for anybody wishing to enter the workplace or progress their career. There are free and funded courses from local providers on offer.
Your Pathway - Produced by Youth Connect South West, this document offers advice and information to help support you through your next steps in your education or career.
Many organisations and services are offering face to face sessions and support as the situation improves. You can find a full list of organisations and what they offer in our Adults Social, Leisure and Learning section of the site.
The Community Wellbeing Hub provides support to people who are in need during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. They can help with a range issues including food, mental health, wellbeing and welfare across Bath and North East Somerset. Please call direct 0300 247 0050. The Hub is led by Virgin Care and B&NES Council, with support of 3SG, B&NES 3rd Sector Group.
Food and meal providers across B&NES.
The Virtual Hope Guide contains details of groups and services in B&NES, who have adapted to continue their work in the community, along with new groups and projects which have started in direct response to the pandemic.
The Alzheimers Society have information on COVID-19 for people affected by dementia.
Black and Asian Families - Covid-19 Helpline: 0800 151 2605
Every Mind Matters - advice and tips on how to protect your mental health from the NHS
Bath MIND has produced resources for COVID-19 support for mental health and well being.
Bath MIND's Breathing Space offers a calm, non-clinical service, supporting individuals experiencing or at risk of a mental health crisis.
NHS Mental wellbeing audio guides to boost your mood.
Mental health resources from NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire (BSW)
Support for parents and carers
Mental Health Helpline for children and young people in B&NES, Swindon, and Wiltshire.
Every Mind Matters guidance for parents/carers and also for children/young people.
Children’s Guide to coronavirus from the Children's Commissioner.
Supporting a child with grief and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic from Young Minds
10 Top tips for talking with children and young people about COVID-19 from Young Minds.
Supporting young people’s mental health during periods of disruption from the Anna Freud Centre.
Mental health problems in children and young people: guidance for parents and carers from the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.
BBC Bitesize parent's toolkit provides top tips, useful links, and expert advice to support you and your child's wellbeing and learning in a changing world.
Support for children and young people
You can find a variety of support groups and services available for young people to discuss any worries or concerns they may have about coronavirus or beyond over on our Young People's Information pages.
Mental Health Helpline for children and young people in B&NES, Swindon, and Wiltshire.
Advice for young people to help with their mental health during the COVID19 pandemic from Anna Freud, National Centre for Children and Families.
Free online resources from Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
Find COVID-19 information for parents and carers on the B&NES Council website, including information about testing, isolating, Test and Trace support payments, how to get a Covid 19 vaccine and your Covid 19 passport.
What parents need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during COVID-19 on the GOV.UK website.
Code.org have 'Hour of Code' activities available for free.
BBC Bitesize have lots of resources, videos and opportunities to compliment your child's learning and progression.
Coronavirus is a free digital book illustrated by Axel Scheffler, for primary aged children to explain the Covid 19 pandemic.
Orchard Toys have a range of free, printable worksheets and activities that are fun, educational, and perfect for learning at home.
Words for Life from the National Literacy Trust has activities to support your child's reading and literacy skills.
The Department for Education (DfE) has produced recommended resources for teachers and parents home-schooling during COVID-19.
A Parent’s Guide to Promoting Early Learning and Development at Home (0 - 5 years) has been produced by SKIP for Early Years Educators.
Learning for Life from the Roman Baths lets you discover more about the world of the Romans, and try out their activities.
Victoria Art Gallery Learning for Life lets you discover more about the world of art and try out activities inspired by their exhibitions and permanent collection.
Learning for Life from the Fashion Museum lets you discover more about the world of fashion and try out a range of activities.
Online anti-bullying resources for parents from The Cybersmile Foundation
ELSA Support Coronavirus 14 day self isolation activities
ELSA - wellbeing activities
The Wildlife Trusts have a range of ideas for outdoor activities
B&NES Council's libraries are open to the public providing activities and story times, aswell as book lending and quiet spaces.
BBC Bitesize teaching from home advice for teachers and parents
City of Bath World Heritage Site website has a range of learning activities
RHS campaign for school gardening have inspiration to get the children outside and interacting with nature.
Live Well B&NES' Local Offer section provides details of groups, support services and information to support young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
BBC Bitesize Parents' Toolkit: SEND
Afaisic have online resources and guidance for Parents/Carers concerned about the child's speech and language development.
Explaining COVID-19 and the vaccine to those with Learning Disabilities and Autism is a collection of resources from Swindon Healthwatch.
Makaton has access to lots of free resources including songs, games, skills and stories.
Bath Rugby Foundation Hi5! is a weekly programme which introduces children and young people with special educational needs to different sports and activities.
ChatterPack has a list of free, online, boredom-busting resources.
Sensory at Home Facebook page has information and advice from professionals.
Easy Read: Coronavirus - How to stay safe
Gympanzees Facebook page share lots of ideas for simple at home physical activities for children with disabilities. They also run pop up session during school holidays.
Gympanzees website has exercise videos, activities, ideas, online therapy webinars with a qualified therapist, and even borrowing specialist play and exercise equipment.
University of Bath have a new online course in Good Practice in Autism Education
Access Sport has lots of ideas for children with physical disabilities to keep active at home.
Bath Area Play Project (BAPP) has some helpful ideas and resources on their website to support children with additional needs as well as running their face to face sessions after school and in holidays.
B&NES Carers Centre is providing virtual support for carers and young carers.
Resources for people with Autism
Guide to coronavirus for people with Autism from the National Autistic Society
Resources for returning to school from the National Autistic Society
And next comes L has a range of social stories that can be personalised, downloaded and printed
Carol Gray Social Stories has a range of free social stories related to coronavirus.
Autism and coronavirus - 20 tips to support your child from Peter Vermeulen
A-Z of calming strategies from ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant)
The Girl With The Curly Hair have some online webinars to access for support.
Corona, autism and uncertainty: push the context button is a video from Peter Vermeulen about how context can decrease stress and anxiety in people on the autism spectrum.
Face coverings: when to wear one, exemptions, and how to make your own on GOV.UK
NHS approved apps for mental health
CALM: App for Mindfulness and Meditation. (Available on iOS, Android & Web)
ThinkNinja: Child wellbeing App is available on iOS and Android
Breathe2Relax: The relaxation app trains you on the “belly breathing” technique that has proven benefits for your overall mental health. Available on iOS and Android
Stress Check by Azumio: This app takes you on a deep breathing exercise to promote calmness and can bring your heart rate down in five minutes. The app provides instant feedback with breath and pulse monitoring and tracks long-term progress. Available on iOS and Android
Happify is a way to make a game of all the positive psychology tricks you know might work, but make you feel kind of silly when you actually do them. You'll start by taking a quick test that assesses the areas of happiness you should work on. Then, you're presented with a few "tracks" that can help get you to your goals. Available on iOS and Android
SAM is an application to help you understand and manage anxiety. Available on iOS and Android
Sanvello: Anxiety & Depression app has daily tools for stress, anxiety, and depression alongside a supportive community. Based on cognitive behavioural therapy & mindfulness meditation. Available on iOS, Android & web.
Thrive: When you log in it gives you different tips to help you relieve stress/anxiety. There are tabs for meditation, deep relaxation, self-hypnosis, and more. Available on iOS and Android
Smiling Mind: Trying to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life? This app can help you launch into a regular practice of mindfulness meditations. Available on iOS and Android
Wysa Happiness Chabot: helps to build emotional resilience by talking to you about your situation. Over 60 psychologists and 10,000 users have provided specific inputs to shape how Wysa helps them. Available on iOS and Android
I love Hue: When you feel like you have no control, this app can help sooth you by creating simple visual harmonies from mosaic tiles. Available on iOS and Android
Worry Watch: This journaling tool has a simple user interface where users can log instances of worry, fear, and anxiety. They can also add the outcome of each situation, which provides a comparison between expectation and reality that helps reduce anxiety over time. Available on iOS
What’s Up?: This app uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) methods to help you cope with depression, anxiety, anger, stress, and more. Available on iOS and Android
WellMind is your free NHS mental health and wellbeing app designed to help you with stress, anxiety and depression. The app includes advice, tips and tools to improve your mental health and boost your wellbeing. Available on iOS and Android
Cove: Free, personal music journal to help you with your emotional and mental health. Trusted by the NHS. Available on iOS
Reflectly: A personal journal and diary driven by AI to enable you to deal with negative thoughts, make positivity louder and to teach you about the science of well-being. Available on iOS and Android
Happy not perfect: Backed by science, designed for you, Happy Not Perfect is your go-to place for everything you need to look after your mind in a fun new way. Available on iOS and Android
Each school will operate their individual policies and procedures in line with government guidance, and your child's school/college will be in touch directly. If you have any specific queries or concerns you should contact your school as soon as possible to discuss these. Below are some online resources to help support your child through their next transition.
National Lockdown guidance on GOV.UK
Returning to school after lockdown from the Mental Health Foundation provides practical advice, activities and support.
Tips for parents and caregivers – preparing your child to return to school from the Mental Health Foundation
Coronavirus: transitioning back to school guidance from the NSPCC
Back to School after Coronavirus Story is a story for all children to help them feel positive about returning to school from ELSA Support
Future Bright offers FREE career coaching, training and support to help you develop the skills and confidence you need to take your next step in your career.
WellChild offers a support to vulnerable families to access vital services and supplies.
Advice on Coronavirus in different languages on YouTube
Practical steps following a death - what to do when someone dies
What to do when someone dies during the COVID-19 pandemic guidance for England on GOV.UK
Find out how to register a death on the B&NES Council website.
Find out about burial, cremation, and memorial options on the B&NES Council website.
Bereavement advice and support from the NHS.
Royal United Hospitals Bereavement Office provides a service for the newly bereaved families of patients who die at RUH.
What is grief? leaflet from Community Access Support Service (CASS) Bristol
Emotional support
Cruse Bereavement Care for Wiltshire and Bath.
Focus Counselling provide professional counselling in Bath and Frome.
Bereavement support and advice from Dorothy House
Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Care. It is a safe place where you can learn from other young people, how to cope with grief, and feel less alone.
Support for children and young people
Child Bereavement UK (Helpline 9am to 5pm weekdays)
Grief Encounter have a helpline (9am to 9pm weekdays) on 0808 802 01 11 and online chat service.
Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Care. It is a safe place where you can learn from other young people, how to cope with grief, and feel less alone.
Winston's Wish support children and young people after the death of a parent or sibling.