By Kirsty-Jane Lamacraft

AS we begin Children’s Mental Health Week I wanted to share my story on how I am helping myself and others with the challenges of lockdown.

During the lockdown last year our unit began meeting on Zoom in order to keep our Guiding Light Shining.  When lockdown ended I was excited to return to school but I was also facing anxiety after feeling safe at home for so long and now having to return to normal life while coronavirus infections were high in our community.  

Our Guide unit continued to meet via Zoom and although it is always fun and engaging it’s just not the same as face-to-face meetings.  

When Boris Johnson announced the January lockdown, I was relieved that again I could feel safe at home, but the reminder of how I felt not being able to see my friends and learn in the classroom came flooding back. 

Instead of these feelings bringing me down, I had an idea on how to spread positivity amongst my Guide friends that would help me as well as others. 

So I proposed my ‘Positivity Challenge’ to the leaders of my unit and with their approval put my plan into action.

Each week I choose a Guide to take part in my secret challenge. I emailed them their challenge. For example, one girl has had to act visibly bored during the meeting and another has had have a birthday party for one.  I also choose a positive quote for them.  At the end of the meeting, once the Guides have tried to identify the challenge, the girl who took part then shares the quote they received in order to encourage the rest of the group for the week ahead. 

The aim of my challenge is to not only bring a bit of fun and cheer, but more importantly to allow everyone to feel equally included.  Personally, I know how nerve-racking it can be when you are too shy to speak up and also how difficult it is to try to make new friends, and this is even harder over a screen.  My goal, therefore, is to help the quieter members of our group relax and contribute, and to help the newer members settle in.  

This challenge is also helping me because as I search through positive quotes for others, I am finding many for myself to reflect on too.

Written by Kirsty-Jane Lamacraft, Age 12

1^st Church Langley Guides Unit

Year 8, St Marks West Essex Catholic School

1^st February 2021