Supporting parents to keep children occupied during coronavirus

Sunderland mother of three Lyndsey, 36, lives with COPD and three-vessel disease and received additional support from The Salvation Army’s team in Southwick. Lyndsey had been expecting to undergo surgery to have three stents fitted into her heart, but the operation was cancelled last week. One of her children has a disability and needs constant attention day and night.

The family has been struggling with the added pressure of staying in during lockdown measures and has been in isolation for five weeks already, as Lyndsey is in the high-risk category. She is very vulnerable to coronavirus with weak heart and lungs. Lyndsey is also scared about having a heart attack in the house, with the children present.

Knowing The Salvation Army at Southwick, Lyndsey reached out to Julie Judson, our Child and Family worker at the Austin House Family Centre. Lyndsey asked if The Salvation Army could help her to entertain her disabled son. The next day, we provided the family with board games to help them keep occupied, especially important for her disabled son.

The Salvation Army at Southwick are being supported generously by local supermarkets and individuals, through food and toy donations, that are made into food and toy parcels for local families in need, working together with social services.