Guidance, activities, creative ideas & resources for families during COVID-19 & Lockdown!
We hope you are all keeping well during this unprecedented time, and are coping with the changes to normal life as a result of COVID-19. We continue to be amazed by our city-wide partnership, built around our ambition to be a child friendly city!
As Leeds has been in lockdown, we decided to update this blog and launch our monthly competition! Further information on the latest restrictions can be found here.
We are using Child Friendly Leeds social media channels to share details of online learning resources, as well as fun and engaging activities for children and young people to help keep them busy indoors. So if you have anything to share then please let us know so we can support this.
Read our ultimate guide with things to do with kids including the following:
Click the image for links to free educational resources and learning tools.
Want to enter our monthly competition to win a tablet? Click the link above to find out more…
As we’re in lockdown 3.0, below are some links to guidance, health advice and support.
Things to do with the kids and creative activities during Covid-19?
Looking for things to do at home with the kids? Ways to home educate and enjoy the time at home with your children? We have lots of inspiration and also useful links to great resources by North Leeds Mumbler.
For Lockdown, Families Magazine have created a digital issue, which is full great ideas and resources for families, for home schooling and much more!
Yorkshire Tots shares 75 free things to do/places to visit in Yorkshire. There are so many places to explore with kids and have fun.
Leeds City Centre Management and Child Friendly Leeds are proud to present the ‘ReDiscover Leeds Family Trail’. The trail highlights lots of unknown stories, hidden wonders and amazing pieces of art, all of which make Leeds city centre a great place for families to visit and don’t forget to use the hashtag #ReDiscoverLeeds on social media!
Khan Academy Kids is a free fantastic app with educational resources, fun activities and games and much more. Inspire a lifetime of learning and discovery with their fun educational program for children ages two to eight.
There are lot’s of online classes, virtual classes and zoom classes and groups for Baby, toddler and school-aged children in Leeds and North Leeds Mumbler have put this fantastic list together. If you know of any more, please do get in touch.
The Leeds Youth Council is a network of 10 – 18 year olds (or up to 25 with additional needs) who live in Leeds and who are passioniate about making a difference. There are currently over 470 members on the Network. Join the network and receive information, newsletters and be invited to virtual sessions!
Leeds Inspired have created a monthly list of events and online shows for the whole family to enjoy. They’ll be adding to it through the month too, so please check back to see what’s happening.
Active Imaginations have shared monthly activities and lots of ideas. Designed to help the little ones get their recommended daily physical activity to help them grow healthily.
Tired of being stuck indoors? Ready to head out on an adventure? These incredible walks are all within easy reach of Leeds, so you can get back outdoors. Go on an easy-family-friendly walk with the kids and enjoy the fresh country air.
SNAPS (Special Needs And Parent Support) provides leisure support services for children with special needs of all kinds, and their families. At SNAPS we are thinking of ways to keep you engaged and active with your families. So we are looking at creating an online resource of educational and at home activities that you can enjoying doing with your families.
The Leeds Local Offer brings together information about all the services available in the city for children and young people aged 0-25 who have special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. For regular updates and resources, please join the Leeds Local Offer Facebook group here.
At the Leeds Youth Voice Summit 2020, 114 young people put forward their ideas for tackling the climate emergency and the action they wanted to see. A new toolkit for young people has been created that’s full of all these ideas along with resources to put these ideas into action, tackle the climate emergency and #LeedsByExample.
On 5 August 2020 (National Play Day) Child Friendly Leeds Live festival went online! #GoOrange was trending on Twitter in Leeds and we had a fantastic show. We put together our free online activity pack! It is full of fun activities for you to do at home; including ideas for you to decorate, create, bake, and make all things orange.
Educational Resource Guide
We have put together the ultimate educational resource guide and links to some of our favourite websites, apps, resources and activities for children and young people. Whether it’s your everyday maths, English and science, or you want to learn about money management or the history of Leeds. There are many FREE resources in our carefully compiled list here.
Competition Time – Want to win a tablet?
While you have some extra time, why not enter some exciting competitions? The #OurChildFriendlyLeeds competition is back with a new theme and a tablet to be won! Many more competitions and prizes to be won so check out our ‘competitions during lockdown blog.
The guidance, support & wellbeing advice in Leeds during the Coronavirus epidemic
Sign up to the Leeds City Council weekly Coronavirus newsletter.
During COVID-19, a page with all the factual information and guidance is available on financial support, food, childcare as well as how you can become a volunteer.
The NHS in Leeds have provided latest health information about Coronavirus, messages around looking after yourself, changes to local appointments and local support. Health services are still available and that people should continue to call 999 for medical emergencies and should call their GP about existing conditions, if they feel unwell, or if they notice new symptoms.
If you’re a young person, MindMate can help you understand the way you’re feeling and find the right advice and support. Find out how to look after your wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Public Health Children and Families team at Leeds City Council has been working with Active Leeds to develop a resource to share with families. The resource includes an activity pack with great ideas for fun things to do at home, together with an information leaflet which contains useful links, tips and phone numbers to help families stay healthy at home.
There have been big changes in our lives because of coronavirus, so here is a children’s guide to Coronavirus to help explain the situation. The guide aims to answer children’s questions, tell children how to stay safe and protect other people and how to help them make the best of their time at home by the Children’s Commissioner for England.
The 100% Digital Leeds team are using digital tools and technology to prevent the most vulnerable in society from falling off the radar of the organisations that support them. They also launched a fund to support third sector organisations and individuals in Leeds.
The LSCP recognise that the COVID-19 is putting increasing pressure on all services providing support to children, young people and families and are here to support.
Whether you’re working from home with your kids for the first time or supporting children with anxiety due to Coronavirus, we’ve got tips and advice for you.
The Feel Better Coronavirus Support Guide was developed following local research with young people, which found 16-19-year-olds would like more wellbeing support.
The guide features tips for getting through self-isolation, including ideas for staying active, making a daily plan and looking after mental wellbeing. It also offers information on where to get a test for COVID-19, and how to access local support.
Kooth is an online mental health community where you can access free, safe and anonymous support. When you visit the website you need to sign up – it’s free!. Young people aged 10-18 have the Kooth service available to them. For information and advice, or to chat to a friendly counsellor.
Baby Week has gathered updates and resources on free to low cost services available from mainstream, third sector and grassroots organisations for parents, carers, families and professionals to access during lockdown. From their resource page to the informative blogs, they have something for everyone looking for services, fun groups and how to get help.
Help if you cannot go out
If you are self-isolating and don’t have friends or family locally who can help you, contact us:
Phone: 0113 376 0330 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
If you have difficulty hearing, text: 07480 632 471
(7 days a week, 9am to 6pm)
British Sign Language: search for Leeds City Council Covid19 Support at SignLive.co.uk.
Our volunteers can help with shopping, collecting medicines or a phone call to check how you are.
Volunteering Opportunities in Leeds
If your change in circumstances means that you are looking for volunteer opportunities, check out Doing Good Leeds which includes things like volunteering in Leeds.
Leeds Baby Bank are looking for volunteers, and weekly donations of specific items. Click here to find out more.
Volunteer Centre Leeds (a project of VAL) has partnered with Be Collective to bring a dedicated online platform for volunteering to Leeds. Search and apply for volunteer roles below, or register and keep checking back – new opportunities are added all the time!
If you would like to advertise a volunteering opportunity here, please email ChildFriendlyLeeds@leeds.gov.uk
Big thumbs up thank you certificate
Let’s give a BIG Child Friendly Leeds thumbs up to all the children and young people in Leeds, and our whole school communities, as they approach the end of what’s been a very different and difficult year. Thanks for everything you’ve been doing to help keep people safe. If you have children at home, download our Child Friendly Leeds certificate to pass on our appreciation and thanks.
If you have resources, news stories, or want to share your updates, please get in touch via the ‘contact‘ page or email Sadiya at childfriendlyleeds@leeds.gov.uk.
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