Support for parents, families and young people
On this page there is lots of information, guidance and support for young people in Greater Manchester as well as for those with children at home.
Support for young people
The Creative Care Kits initiative, led by GMCA, was launched in June 2020, with thousands of kits distributed to young people, aged 13-20 years old, who are not online, and so may have been feeling more isolated and lonely during the pandemic.
Each kit contains 36 pages of activities, hints and tips on protecting young people's mental wellbeing and a set of art materials. As well as giving young people something to do, the kits helped to create a sense of connection at a time when they are were not able to rely on face-to-face interactions.
Front cover of Creative Care Kit
(first edition)
Two kits have been produced. You can download both kits on the young people section of the website, where you’ll also find out more information about the Greater Manchester Youth Task Force and the development of the Young Person’s Guarantee.
Mental health and wellbeing
There is a variety of mental health support available for children and young people including:
- Kooth is an online platform that provides mental health support for children and young people.
- Shout is there for anyone who is struggling to cope. You can send a text at any time to 85258 or find more information on their website.
- Home Start provides a variety of resources to help families during the Coronavirus outbreak, including information for pregnant women, how to talk to your children about Coronavirus, and activities to keep kids busy.
Home Start (opens in a new tab)
- Manchester City Football Club has games to keep children of all ages active at home.
Cityzens at Home (opens in a new tab)
- Resources to help support families during lockdown.
Save the Children (opens in a new tab)
For pregnant women and families expecting a baby
If you are expecting a baby, you can find information about maternity services and care here:
My Birth My Choice (opens in a new tab)
For children under the age of five
- Tiny Happy People has wide range of resources and activities for keeping young children entertained and learning at home.
Tiny Happy People (opens in a new tab)
- Greater Manchester’s Ten Tips for Talking, is a set of evidence-based key messages for families, early years practitioners and the wider community which promotes interaction between young children and their families, from birth to age 5, to support early years development.
- Hungry Little Minds offers simple, fun activities for kids, from newborn to five.
Hungry Little Minds (opens in a new tab)
- If your child is due to start primary school, BBC has information to emotionally, socially and physically prepare your child.
BBC Starting Primary School (opens in a new tab)
For children of school age
- Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's Training and Development Centre in Bury have created a fire safety in the home workbook for children aged between 7 and 11 years of age to keep children learning at home.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (opens in a new tab)
- If your children are of school age, please contact their school for advice and guidance. In addition to the work provided by the school, you can find a number of educational resources for primary and secondary age children below.
Online educational resources (opens in a new tab)
- An online Home Learning Resource aimed at protecting nine to eleven-year-old children from abuse and exploitation.