As our Long Covid Kids charity grows, we thought it important to bring our country representatives into the spotlight so that you, our audience, know who we are, what we've achieved and what we continue to do for those affected by Covid-19 around the world.
Name the country that you represent and how long you have been part of the team
My name is Helen Goss.
I represent Scotland and I became the Scottish Representative for Long Covid Kids in 2021.
I also head and organise the World Representatives for the charity.
What are the COVID-19 challenges specific to your country?
As Omicron BA5 sweeps through Scotland, at the time of writing in July 2022, ONS reports that around 1 in 17 of the population currently has the SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is likely to rise before it falls. Unfortunately, in the absence of any public health measures, SARS-CoV-2 is being allowed to transmit freely and few can avoid infection. This poses incredibly stark challenges for those who are keen to avoid infection/reinfection. Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, the narrative in Scotland remains that "Omicron is a cold" and "children are not at risk."
What are the Long Covid challenges specific to your country?
As of July 2022, Scotland has no specific care pathway for adults or children living with Long Covid. People living with Long Covid are struggling to access the health and social care support they need. Families report that they cannot access flexible education provisions for their school-age children, whilst they are at home recovering.
What has LCK Scotland been up to?
On 23rd June 2022, Long Covid Kids and Long Covid Scotland partnered on a Press Conference, facilitated by the Long Covid Parliamentary Cross Party Group MSPs in the Scottish Parliament. The children in LCK Scottish Support Services bravely spoke out for the first time and created this powerful video montage.
What have you achieved?
On 28th June 2022, some families from the Scottish Support Services met with Cabinet Secretary for Health, Humza Yousaf, to deliver the Long Covid Kids Support Guide and hand-deliver letters that the children had written. The young people did incredibly well to travel and attend on the day, they should be incredibly proud of themselves for being able to share their experiences and explain to the Cabinet Secretary in person, how Long Covid has and continues to, affect their daily lives. The day, expectedly, took its toll and the kids took many days to recover, if not still recovering.
What are your plans for representing Long Covid Kids in Scotland going forward?
LCK Scotland intends to keep up the pressure on the Scottish Government to provide;
Improved access to health & social care,
Improved access to appropriate, flexible education,
Improved indoor air quality in school buildings
Investment for high-quality, co-produced, biomedical paediatric research to better understand the pathology of Long Covid in children and young people with the goal of finding therapeutics and treatments.
Find out more about our visit to No 10 Downing Street on 1st April 2022 to launch the new Long Covid Kids' Support Guide.
BBC - Long Covid: Children affected take fight to Downing Street
BBC - Yeovil long Covid patient delivers Downing Street petition
Press & Journal - ‘We need help’: Nine-year-old girl battling long Covid in plea to the prime minister
SKY FYI - FYI episode 166 - Shown on SKY news.
Daily Express - Long Covid campaigners descend on Downing Street as 119,000 UK kids suffer horror symptoms
About
In 2021 Long Covid Kids became the first UK-based, international registered charity advocating for families, children and young people living with Long Covid.
The charity focuses on the recognition, support and recovery, has already received recognition from the NHS and the Centre for Disease Control in the USA, and is a recommended resource in the NICE Long Covid guidelines.
Our Mission
Purpose
We believe all children should be able to thrive and look forward to a positive future. That is why we represent and support children and young people living with Long Covid and related illnesses and the parents and caregivers that look after them.
Our Vision
To achieve recognition, support and recovery for Long Covid and related illnesses in children and young people
Support Our Work
While children are living with life-changing symptoms and families struggle to seek support, we need to be here. Your donation will be used directly to support families living with Long Covid. Find out more about our Impact.
