BLACK AND Asian children and families, who have been among those hit hardest by COVID-19, could experience increased challenges to their emotional health and wellbeing, as England enters a four-week lockdown on Thursday.

Research published last week by the Resolution Foundation shows Black, Asian and minority ethnic workers are more likely to be made unemployed post-furlough. Official statistics show Black people are around four times more likely to die from COVID-19 related illnesses than white people of the same age.

With the new restrictions, combined with the existing lockdown measures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, likely to further worsen people’s anxieties, Barnardo’s, the UK’s largest children’s charity, is offering a helpline to specifically support black and Asian communities. 

“The urgent need for specialist advice and support has never been greater”

Barnardo’s CEO, Javed Khan

Boloh, the first helpline specifically supporting vulnerable Black, Asian and minority ethnic children and families negatively affected by COVID-19, was launched last month.

The charity hopes the helpline, which provides therapeutic support and has a live webchat facility to enable children aged 11 to 18 to access advice easily, will be a lifeline to communities struggling to deal with issues such as sickness and bereavement, rising hate crime and loss of support services, due to the pandemic, on top of existing inequalities.

The Boloh service also provides advice and support from trained specialist advisors and therapists – who are from a diverse set of cultural backgrounds and speak a range of languages.

Barnardo’s CEO, Javed Khan, said: “As thousands of vulnerable children and families across the UK bear the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, the urgent need for specialist advice and support has never been greater.

“I know from personal experience that families in Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Black people are four times more likely to die of the virus compared to white people, while COVID and recession are worsening existing inequalities. As a result, children are suffering bereavement, mental health problems and fear for the future – yet many remain hidden from essential support services and have been left to suffer in silence.

“Our new helpline for children and families is the first of its kind, offering a UK-wide support service to help these families tackle a unique and complex range of issues.”

The helpline will signpost people to a range of different organisations such as Citizen Advice, which can help with families experiencing financial problems, and to local community groups.

Boloh is a word used in many languages including Hindi, Urdu and Gujarati, meaning “speak” or to be invited to speak​​​​​.​

The helpline number for children from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds is 0800 151 2605 or click here to use the webchat facility.