How a Jarrow youth project has been supporting young people through the crisis

The Central Jarrow Detached Youth Project (CJDYP) has been keeping young people in the area engaged with fun activities including quizzes, challenges and weekly zoom calls as well as offering one to one support for young people and families struggling, helping them battle anxiety surrounding the coronavirus.

The group has also been keeping young people informed, sharing the latest news and guidelines regarding coronavirus, making sure they have the latest up to date information on what they can and can’t do.

CJDYP has also been supporting the mental and physical health of young people during lockdown by holding workout sessions and wellness activities.

Warren Clarke, Youth Development Officer at CJDYP, said: “The staff team have been very active in staying in touch with both young people and their families. The vast majority of this support has been done via a young person only online support Facebook page.

“I think it is important to highlight the struggles that the lockdown has given to many people. We recognised that many of the young people may struggle with fully understanding the virus so we have made explanations clearer for them to understand.”

Now that lockdown is easing, the group are beginning to take young people on socially distanced walks and meeting them for a chat in person.

During normal times, CJDYP run a church based Saturday group and deliver outreach work in central Jarrow.

Experts have warned of the impact of the coronavirus crisis on people’s mental health and wellbeing, as well as the particular impact it is having on young people.

Groups and projects across the North East have been trying ways of supporting young people.

Missing out on school, the difficult decisions facing school leavers when it comes to further and higher education and job opportunities, and an unequal access to technology are among other problems which have been highlighted.

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