Reconnect: Kent children and young people
It’s time to reconnect Kent’s children and young people to the things they’ve missed during the pandemic.
Every aspect of their lives has been affected, from their learning and wellbeing to their friendships.
These effects have been significant, and it is recognised nationally and internationally that children and young people have sacrificed more than most over the course of the pandemic.
Children and young people have told us they want to reconnect:
- health and happiness
- learning missed
- family, friends and community
- sport, activities and the outdoors
- economic wellbeing.
About the programme
The programme will run from April 2021 to the end of August 2022 and will be available to all children, from the age of 2 to 19 years old (or 24 years old if they have special educational needs and/or disabilities).
Different levels of need will be available, from the services and support for all children to targeted support for those requiring more specialist support.
We’ve made a short video that also explains the aims of the programme.
Programme of activities
We've recently had conversations with young people and they made it clear that they want to look forward, feel optimistic and try new things.
Don’t focus on the negative and what we’ve lost, be positive about our future!
Young person, Kent
We will be working with young people and their families over the next few months to design a programme of positive, engaging and exciting opportunities and activities that help them to reconnect with education, healthy activities, friends and future opportunities.
We’ll also be working with local councils, schools and settings, sports and leisure clubs, community groups, charities, local businesses and police, fire and health to make this programme happen.
You can sign up to be the first to receive the latest news about the programme and find out the new opportunities available.
Sign up to receive the latest news
How you can support the programme
It’s clear that reconnecting children and young people is a national priority, as it will be for many in our communities.
We want the whole community of Kent to get behind the Reconnect brand and to be proud to be associated with it. We need your help in making the programme bigger and reach further.
What more could each of us do in our work and home life to help reconnect children and young people? What could you do to help make the biggest, positive impact we can for Kent’s children and young people?
You can pledge your contribution, however big or small, in many ways. For example you could:
- volunteer your time to help out in local clubs and sports facilities, mentor young people or give an hour to help children read at school or take part in after school clubs
- donate items such as sports kits, arts and craft materials, recycled computers
- provide access to facilities you might have that provide an opportunity for clubs to run
- hire an apprentice or provide work experience
- provide sponsorship or money to enable more new activities to be provided for children and young people.