A company which runs educational workshops for young people will be hosting free reflecting on the pandemic sessions for schools in Sheffield.
Sheffield City Council has awarded Amazelab a COVID memorial fund grant to help facilitate the workshops, which will let children reflect on their experiences with the pandemic creatively.
The COVID-19 Community Memorial Fund was set up in partnership with Compassionate Sheffield, a programme which helps support people through loss, with the aim of gathering stories, connecting communities and sharing perspectives.
Leonie Briggs, director of Amazelab, said: “When I saw the grant advertised my mind immediately went to these amazing young people I get to work with.
“I really wanted to ask them how they felt about the pandemic, how they thought about it three years on – I really wanted them to be represented.”
Amazelab focuses on creative and relevant ways of teaching children and young people the STEAM subjects: science, technology, engineering, arts and maths.
Ms Briggs said: ”I stand in front of a group of children and think I wonder who’s in this room, you could be the first person to set foot on Mars, you could find the cure for cancer.”
The director said the impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health and wellbeing is her main concern as they have missed out on key social experiences and not had access to community groups, dance, football and other activities they would normally attend.
Statistics from the bmj found that between April and September 2021, there was an 81% increase in referrals for children and young people’s mental health services compared to 2011.
The workshops will revolve around making sun-catchers and teaching young people about colour, however a large portion of the sessions will focus on student voice and how the pandemic has changed their views on life.
Ms Briggs said: “I really want them to be a prominent piece in the community, in people’s homes and schools, so that they can look at the sun-catchers and reflect on the pandemic and what it means to them.”
The reflecting on the pandemic workshops will be recorded in the national archives and the sun-catchers will be featured as an exhibition in the Millennium gallery.
If you are interested in hosting a reflecting on the pandemic workshop at your school, contact info@amazelab.co.uk or visit them on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)
