Some useful information

Below is a resource from UNHCR.  A story book for children and is also translated into a number of different languages.  It’s a lovely book to download for younger children.

Children’s storybook released to help children and young people cope with COVID-19

World Health Organization

UNHCRUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Below is a link for Wayne Denner’s website that provides information on all things online which can be shared with parents.

Online Safety Trainer and Motivational Speaker Wayne Denner

Wayne Denner is an Online Safety Trainer and Professional Speaker. Each year Wayne Denner speaks to over 50,000 Students, Parents, and Businesses on how to use the Internet & Social Media positively and responsibly by developing practical Online Safety Skills.

Wayne Denner- TRACY EDWARDS MBE

The NSPCC are also offering tips for online safety and in particular social media. (NetAware)

Net Aware: Your guide to social networks, apps and games

Net Aware brings together the NSPCC’s expertise in protecting children and O2’s tech know-how, we’ve got everything you need to help you keep your kids safe online. Whether you’re an online expert or you’re unsure of where to start, we’re here to help.

o2 nspcc, Let's keep kids safe online

The Covid-19 Community Helpline went live on Friday 27 March and operates 9am to 5pm, 7 days per week initially, although this will be kept under review and the service can be increased if necessary.  The Helpline has been taking calls from members of the public who need advice and support relating to the COVID 19 emergency, initially linking people into local services.

Some of the services which can be accessed via the helpline include: delivery of food parcels to vulnerable people including those in the shielded group who have no other way to access food deliveries; information about retailers offering delivery in a local area; help from the voluntary and community sector to deliver prescription medication and advice on claiming benefits.  Advice NI have put in place a detailed directory of community and voluntary organisations at both a local and regional level covering everything from domestic abuse, to mental health to local sports groups willing to walk dogs for vulnerable people.  Helpline staff will provide a warm handoff to the relevant service if they are unable to deal with a query themselves, and are aware of the need for a warm handoff to the Nexus service if a caller reports domestic abuse during the course of the conversation.

The helpline is for vulnerable people who have no other method of accessing support.  If a vulnerable person already has sufficient support in place, either from family and friends or from a voluntary organisation then they should continue to rely on that in the first instance.

On the question of whether representatives could call the helpline on someone’s behalf the answer is yes, as long as the person has given permission to the representative to share their details and act on their behalf.

The Helpline service also offers e-mail and text message response facility.

Telephone:         0808 802 0020                   Email: [email protected]                     Text: ACTION to 81025