covid-19 blog

week 4- counselling service.

The focus this week will be centred around our counselling service. There are 2 members of the BYHP team who deliver counselling- Deb who is our Service Delivery Manager for the Health and Wellbeing Team and Ros who is a Wellbeing Practitioner. Alongside them, we also have 2 volunteers- Janine and Trisha who deliver couselling sessions to young people once a week.

Here's what Deb had to say about BYHP Counselling during the Coronavirus;
"Counselling at BYHP has moved online and the team have become familiar very quickly with using virtual online platforms; I think we are all surprised at how well this is working and how we have adapted so quickly.  Supporting our young people is vital during this uncertain period and by maintaining contact virtually, we can re-create a version of our face to face connection.
The Coronavirus affects us all to different degrees and there are many extra challenges for our vulnerable clients to face; feelings of anxiety, isolation and loneliness, all of which are only natural in this uncertain world we are now living in. 
What can we do to combat our anxiety?  If we take a moment to stop, sit, ground ourselves, breathe, concentrate on ourselves, think, what is it that I am the most anxious about.  What causes us to feel most anxiety is so often the future, what is going to happen.  In these times, none of us can really know what the answer is, it is not something we have any control over.
So, let us think about what we can do to be in the moment and to live for today, taking one day at a time, we have control over what we enjoy doing.  How many times have we said that we don’t have the time to . . . . read that book, make a cake, complete the jigsaw, weed the flower bed, finish that project we started.  The list goes on.  Suddenly, here we are, unexpectedly with all this time on our hands. Having a structure to the day is just one way to quell anxiety and to give a purpose to get up and face the day.  This is the time for self-care, showing compassion for ourselves and for others.  What do you enjoy doing?  You will find anything and everything on YouTube or Instagram where so many of our communities and celebrities are doing their best to keep us entertained and educated.
Factor in the day a time to go for your allowed hour of fresh air.  Go for a walk, remembering to keep your 2 metres distance.  For those lucky enough to have a garden, take advantage of the warm weather and watching the wildlife.  Take photographs!"
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Here are some of the photographs taken by Deb on one of her daily walks;

Did you know that £50 is a huge help towards delivering a counselling session. We are now able to accept donations straight into our bank account which means there are no admin fees and we receive the full amount. If the person donating is eligible, we can also claim Gift Aid on these donations which is an additional 25%. If you are able to spare any amount, please head here.
Thank you.
For referral information or to find out more about our counselling service, please visit this page on our website.
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​We were delighted to be chosen as the charity partner for the Banbury Regional Community of Midcounties Co-op earlier this year. They had lots of things planned in store as well as supporting our fundraisers and organising their own. Obviously things have had to change slightly in the current situation we are all in but we would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every member of their team as a key worker for the amazing work they are doing. This includes not only the staff on the shop floor but their distribution centres, office teams and delivery drivers too.
They have also set up an incredible scheme to support foodbanks- you can find details and donate here.
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Still thinking of things to do during your time at home? Our Health and Wellbeing Manager Deb suggests making a journal;
 When you are asked in the future what you did during the ‘Lock-down’, reflect on how you spent your days.  Self-care and compassion for ourselves and for others is vital.
A comment the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, made at the beginning of this crisis struck a chord:
“Now, more than any time in our recent history, we will be judged by our capacity for compassion.  Our ability to come through this won’t just be down to what government or business can do but by the individual acts of kindness that we show one another.’
‘When this is over, and it will be over, we want to look back at this moment and remember the many small acts of kindness done by us and to us.’
‘You will not face this alone."

Each one of us staying at home is playing our part and together, collectively, we will win this struggle.  It is a time for courage, compassion and kindness towards ourselves and others. 

Thursday 23rd April marked the start of Ramadan. Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims, in which they usually fast during daylight hours, congregate for prayers and share meals as a community. But with strict curfews and physical distancing directives enforced to limit the spread of COVID-19, many of Ramadan's rituals and traditions are being curtailed this year. Many Mosques are live-streaming sermons, Quranic recitation and prayers as people are encouraged to pray alone or with immediate family. The Eid al-Fitr festival marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated as an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries. With lockdown measures in place and large gatherings banned, this year's festivities will also be scaled down.
This will impact many people in our local community. Please remember that we are all facing different challenges throughout these surreal times. 

Look out for next week's posts. We will be sticking with our Health and Wellbeing team but moving over to their Family Mediation service. 
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THANK YOU EVERYONE, STAY SAFE :)