A year locked down in the words of some of the children we support

This past year has provided different challenges for all of us, but for those we support, these challenges have been significantly worse. Thanks to our Achieving More partnership with School-Home Support, we have been able to provide vital practical and emotional support to help vulnerable children and families in Croydon. Sarah Smart, CEO, Reedham Children’s Trust.

To mark a year since the UK went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we asked some of the school children we’ve been helping in Croydon to write a little bit about what the past year has looked and felt like for them…

My life has changed since the first lockdown. Staying at home all the time, trying to do my work without being in my classroom, not seeing my friends. At first Coronavirus was just a little thing I had hardly heard about, but soon the disease grew, the news was now mostly focused on the new arrival of the disease. Before I knew it, shops closed and we are now staying at home, trying to survive. - Abeni (10)

Read more of Abeni's letter here...

During lockdown I was worried and scared that I wouldn’t go back to school to see my friends again and to learn. I feared that myself or one of my family members would get COVID-19 and die from it. I have learnt a lot about myself and my family because of being closed indoors together for months. I got used to staying indoors and learning from home using my iPad. I have learnt that I can adapt to changes and I appreciated my life more and I’m grateful for my family. - Fatima (10)

School has helped me a lot. It has made me smarter, more focused and very confident in everything that I do. In this year I have learnt that now I can be very patient in lockdown and other stuff. - Penny (10)

Read more of Penny's letter here...

I have to speak to friends across the phone and text them. We can’t mix bubbles which is annoying because what if somebody died or was injured - you can’t see them or help but you can kinda help. In school we had to have our own chair, table, pen , pencil - you get it. I have learned that online school is not better than when you come into school, because when you are stuck on a question you would normally ask the teacher for help but sometimes they can’t. - Aamina (10)

My parents are separating and that has had a big impact on me and other members of my family, but sometimes it happens and you just need to move, but it is sad though. My life is different because I feel more lazy with my work and I don’t understand lots more stuff and if you go to school I think you’re actually really lucky. I think if you get a chance to get out well get out because there might be another lock down. - Jennifer (10)

The things that have changed in my life during lockdown are that I have been moving to a lot of different foster homes and I have had to get to know new people. I have also changed school twice within the last year also. -Tim (10)

Read more here...

Over the latest lockdown our key workers have, day in, day out worked tirelessly with children struggling to learn because of: hunger, lack of space to learn, or being cold because the family cannot afford to put the heating on. The COVID-19 pandemic and the numerous lockdowns has widened the disadvantage gap for children and young people. Department for Education data suggests the attainment gap could be as much as 75% between disadvantaged pupils and their better off peers once the COVID-19 crisis recedes.

What we are seeing is a crisis – a pandemic within a pandemic; of poverty increasing and children’s chances of escaping that in the future reducing. Children who are growing up in poverty deserve a fair chance to build a better life after this pandemic – and the key to doing this is through being able to learn.

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