Katharine Loveday from Kids Inspire joined us today to talk about the work of the charity that provides children and their families with mental health and trauma recovery support. During the last year they worked with 3,500 children and young people. Engagement with their clients can be from ten sessions through to thirty sessions, depending on the need. Katharine was clear that the pandemic had meant a 40% increase in the number of children and young people either being referred of self referring for assistance. Katharine gave an example of a project during lock-down focused on producing songs and music. The charity has over 100 staff, many of whom are part time and bring professional skills. There are also a large number of volunteers, for whom appropriate training is provided. Free training is available to all adults to understand how children and young people have been affected by trauma. There are spaces available for this training in May, June and September and Katharine encouraged this for anyone engaging in any capacity with children and young people. Mentoring is a significant part of the work. Recently this has been peer-to-peer, with older teenagers mentoring those preparing to move from primary school to the secondary sector. Many people are surprised to find that there is no centralised support for Kids Inspire, meaning that fund raising activities are essential. Katharine gave examples of sporting events, non-uniformed days at school and social events that can be organised to raise funds. She encouraged anyone with a potential fundraising idea to be in touch with the charity.
More information about every aspect of the work, together with volunteering and fundraising opportunities, can be found at www.kidsinspire.org.uk
Playlist
John Batiste – Tell the truth – from his 2022 Grammy award winning album, We are.
Lady A – What a song can do – title track from their 2021 album.
Katrina & the Waves – Walking on sunshine – chosen by Katharine as it is the happiest song she could think of for the show.
Whitney Houston – Greatest love of all – Katharine said the first words of the song have a really powerful sentiment.
Robbie Williams – Feel – Katharine said that this was simply a lovely calm track. We could not believe it is twenty years old.
The Friday Birthdays competition.
Above, Judy Collins in 1968.
Below, Judy Collins in 2022.
Judy Collins has recently released an album of self-penned songs, written during lockdown. She will also be touring the UK later this year. She recently celebrated her 83rd birthday. We heard her 1967 version of Joni Mitchel’s Both sides now.
Lily Allen had her 37th birthday. We heard the track used in a 2013 Christmas advert – Somewhere only we know.
Ray Parker Jrn had his 68th birthday. We heard the film theme – Ghostbusters – which was a no 1 in the USA and five more countries, and no 2 in the UK and ten more countries.
Bob in Harlow and Patrick in Ingatestone were joint winners with three points. Chris in Guildford scored one point. Thanks also to Tom, on work experience at Phoenix FM, Katharine, Chris in Harlow and Joan in Tottenham for taking part.
S Club 7 – Bring it all back – Patrick requested the group’s debut single from 1999 and a UK and New Zealand no 1.
Dave Stewart & Colin Blunstone – What becomes of the broken hearted. A UK no 1 from 1980.
The chart this week in
No 1 Shadows – Wonderful land – this track spent eight weeks at number one.
No 3 Roy Orbison – Dream baby.
No 17 Ketty Lester – Love letters
Crosby, Stills & Nash – Wasted away.
Judy Collins – Spellbound. Title track from her new album.
Sting – Fragile
Jason Mraz – Make it mine
James Blunt – Heart to heart
Next week my guests are are a mysterious lady and a low-born man from the Tudor Festival on 14th of May at Ingatestone Hall.