“Those that  emerge from lockdown will be changed, forever.”

The coronavirus and its impacts on health, the economy and social life in the UK will be profound. Each and every child, young person and adult has already seen huge disruption to their normal lives, with uncertainty about what the future holds. While it is difficult to predict what the future will look like with any degree of certainty, reacting to this moment through creativity can offer a productive outlet to frustrations or concerns we all share.

This project will help participants reflect on their changed lives by offering an outlet to express thoughts and feelings about the current situation or how the future could be different.

Uneven impact: 

The impact of the coronavirus will not be evenly spread. The experiences of lockdown may encompass, loss of income, grief, isolation and family breakdown, but his will not be the same for everyone. The perceptions and emotional impact will also be very different. Some may have endured real physical and emotional hardship, others may have encountered some boredom but also the support of a caring stable family and a strong community. 

Coping with loss: 

Many young people will have experienced personal loss as an impact of this virus. Those who haven’t will have still heard tragic stories in the media, or through friends and relatives. This experience and thoughts of anticipatory grief while thinking of vulnerable family or friends, can all lead to anxiety over the future, but also to thoughts of valuing the time we do have with our loved ones while we have it.

Impact on the poorest in society: 

More people living in poverty will have suffered a loss of someone, be it a family member, friend or neighbour, and more will have lost their livelihoods and had a greater part of their lifestyle change for ever. The impact on the poor in Britain will be profound. The impact on the poor internationally is forecast to be catastrophic. However, with the public and government’s acknowledgement of the heroism of key workers who have kept our country running through the crisis, alongside the accommodation for many of the UK’s homeless, there may be some positive impact for the most vulnerable in our society.

Hope

As with all major challenges, there is light and hope and there is room for some positivity. Some good will come from the enforced lockdown and there will be a growing sense of community, as was experienced in other times of significant national and global crisis. Already we are seeing cleaner air across major cities as travel by road or air is restricted. Nature if given a chance can thrive in our absence. So, this project, which is based on the sensitivity and  sensibilities of youth is avowedly optimistic. It seeks to identify hopes, acknowledge fears and anxieties and give expression to them. It will encourage participants to explore and envisage a new world order.