Manchester's older residents urged to help children through 'Covid-crisis'

Older residents in Manchester are being called upon to help children in the city deal with the huge impact of coronavirus.

Buzz Health and Wellbeing Service are asking people to share 'words of wisdom' on a postcard to support children in the community as they make the transition back to school and deal with the changes that Covid-19 has brought about.

Senior UK educators have recognised the seriousness of children’s mental health problems as a result of COVID-19.

Doctor Anamaria Churchmanin said: "Even in 2017, research showed that one in eight children aged five to 19 years old had a mental disorder. It’s highly likely the situation worsened considerably under lockdown."

If you would like to get involved, you're being asking that you:

• Design a postcard for a child of primary school age, decorate it as your like and then drop it off at a library listed below (blank cards are available at the libraries)

• Write a message sharing your ‘words of wisdom’ on the back of the card which will help the child feel more confident/happy

• Leave your first name and age on the card so that the recipient can tell people that they have received a card from you (this is optional, you do not have to share this information if you choose not to)

Once written cards can be dropped off at the following Manchester Library sites: North City Library, Abraham Moss Library, Beswick Library, Central Library, Longsight Library, Gorton Library, Fallowfield The Place Library, Hulme High Street Library, Chorlton Library, Wythenshawe Forum Library, Didsbury Library, Withington Library.

They must be sent by Friday 16th October.

The team will then distribute your postcard with a school child in your neighbourhood.