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Inspire Cheshire West has closed. Thank you to everyone who took part. Your contributions, stories, ideas and experiences about life under lockdown restrictions were a valuable resource to the communities of west Cheshire.

Mental Health in Lockdown. Young Storyhouse

Our community has been under tight restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 for most of 2020 with more restrictions in place now in 2021. The effect of the pandemic on our mental health has been huge, especially for young people. But many of them have found new and creative ways to express their feelings.

In 2020, Storyhouse Young Company 17-25 age group (part of Young Storyhouse) worked together on a Mental Health in Lockdown project.

The group held weekly workshops on Zoom with the Young Storyhouse team, and then chose four specific mental health conversations they felt were important for young people to have, and invited four experts to speak to them. After writing their pieces, they had a masterclass from a former member of Young Storyhouse, now a professional filmmaker Alex Howe on how to film themselves performing their spoken word pieces. Here are some of the results.

OT - a 'person centred' approach

Ria is an OT working mainly with children in Cheshire West and Chester. She’s based in the community ‘Patch’ team with social care professionals from different disciplines.Anyone can refer a child to occupational therapy, and Ria works very closely with the health paediatric OT team , school and social care colleagues. Some of the children using this service have severe physical, learning, emotional or behavioural needs whilst others might have less-complex needs. Either way, all professionals involved with the family need to take a team approach and a long-term view of supporting them and the child.Like other OTs Ria’s initial…

Deliver Dial Differently

Dial West Cheshire improves the lives of disabled people. We created a short video which shows how during the coronavirus pandemic we adapted to Deliver Dial Differently. Our work contributes to people experiencing less poverty, reduced loneliness and isolation, and improved health and mental wellbeing. Our charity is playing our part as the community in Cheshire West and Chester pulls together during this difficult time. The roll out of the COVID vaccine indicates 2021 will be a brighter year. Dial West Cheshire will continue to play our part to build back better for a more disability inclusive and equal society…