With Covid-19 every day is a school day

I am generally a half glass full type of person and try to look for the positives in life. I like to support the underdog in a sporting contest to hopefully see David sleigh Goliath. I like to see the best in people, take people at face value and most of all I like to see people being treated fairly regardless of their background, colour of their skin, gender, religion or sexual orientation.

Forrest Gump, played by the hugely talented Tom Hanks, stated that ‘My Momma always said… Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get’. I have always taken the saying as meaning that in the box (in life) there are bitter, sweet, white and dark, fruity moments and these tastes are all experiences to enjoy – some more than others!

With Covid-19 we really don’t know what we are gonna get thrown our way in life.

Covid-19 is reshaping how we see the world. The virus isn’t going away it’s an invisible enemy leaving a trail of devastation particularly in the BAME and elderly populations.

I am often being accused of being too optimistic but even I’m finding it hard to stay positive and I am one of the lucky ones. I have kept my health and retained my job thanks to the unique work of the Community Foundation in distributing community resilience grants to the amazing charities and individuals in Calderdale.

But so many haven’t been as lucky. Upwards of a million people are now unemployed or working reduced hours thanks to Covid-19 and thousands upon thousands of businesses across all industries face uncertain futures.

And then there’s education… and the next significant challenge – getting schools, colleges and universities back open and functioning as normal as possible. Schools are educational establishments, but they are much than that – they are communities. For many from disadvantaged communities, schools are life saving places of sanctuary, places where children can receive a well-balanced meal and a place of security and constancy where for many, homelife is anything but.

Plans are for schools to reopen in September but before children and young people return there’s an immediate growing problem and this is ‘holiday hunger’. It is estimated that are 3 million children in the UK that are going hungry during the extended break brought about by Covid-19.

Community Foundation for Calderdale have teamed up with Calderdale Council, and joining other community foundations and charities, to fund projects supporting the children and young people most in need of healthy food/meals. https://cffc.co.uk/school-holiday-food-support-grant/ The Foundation I work for are doing what we can to help those in need and if you know of a local charity who needs funding to help vulnerable children and young people or you’re one of the lucky people who can contribute please contact me on 01422 349700 or visit our website www.cffc.co.uk.