Pulling together in times of crisis: a collective response to support our communities

The 2024 national riots triggered widespread fear and anxiety across the country, exacerbating existing feelings of isolation, pain, and trauma for many. The events highlighted deep-rooted concerns related to racism, Islamophobia, and violence, leaving individuals, families and communities feeling vulnerable and in urgent need of support. In response, the National i-THRIVE Programme and the NCL Waiting Room team came together to provide a crucial lifeline.

Recognising the need for immediate action, the i-THRIVE team reached out to their Community of Practice, drawing on the expertise of practitioners nationwide. Contributions of valuable resources poured in from Greater Manchester, Avon and Wiltshire, Rochdale, Surrey, and other regions, offering essential tools to help young people, parents, and carers cope with the mental health challenges brought on by the social unrest. The resources selected were carefully curated to reflect the key principles of the THRIVE framework, particularly Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Accessibility, ensuring they met the diverse needs of all communities affected by the crisis.

Among the resources featured was a guide from Save The Children which provided tips for parents on how to talk to their children about distressing current events. This resource is invaluable in helping families navigate difficult conversations during times of crisis (savethechildren.org.uk). Additionally, the webpage highlighted support from several local and national voluntary sector organisations, including Young Roots (youngroots.org.uk) and Hope For The Young (hopefortheyoung.org.uk), which offer mentoring and advocacy for young refugees, a group particularly vulnerable during such periods of social unrest.

The NCL Waiting Room team quickly compiled these national resources alongside local offerings, creating a dedicated webpage on the NCL Waiting Room website (nclwaitingroom.nhs.uk). This new resource hub was designed to help individuals manage their heightened anxiety, fear, and trauma, providing timely and relevant support that was accessible to everyone, regardless of background or circumstance. Simultaneously, the i-THRIVE team established a similar page on their website (https://implementingthrive.org), ensuring that these inclusive and accessible resources reached a national audience.

This collective effort underscored the strength of partnership working, uniting NHS, Local Authorities, ICB, and VCSE colleagues to respond to the evolving needs of our communities. The rapid, coordinated response echoed the origins of the NCL Waiting Room platform, which was first developed during the early days of the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns to support families facing sudden and overwhelming change.

By aligning with the THRIVE framework principles of Partnership Working, Needs-Led Support, EDI, and Accessibility, and reflecting the NCL Waiting Room’s ethos of Self-Management and Prevention, this initiative empowers individuals to take control of their wellbeing during times of crisis. It stands as a powerful testament to the impact of collaboration, providing crucial and inclusive support when it’s needed most.