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That is so true the mind is scary, however we are in control of the mind to brighten it up with good thoughts.

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I have given poetry writing another go. Let me know what you all think!

This one is called:

The truth of letting go

At the depth of my visceral I feel a deep emotion flowing like lava almost bursting out the seems of my gut.
What is this emotion?
It clutches me in its tight grip.
Struggling to gasp for air; I’m exhausted.
My body whispers to me,
Just let go.

Fear engulfs me. I disappear in its passing blaze.
How do I let go of something if I don’t know what I’m letting go of?
My body whispers to me;
Just let go, you’re safe.

Inner conflict arises, questions upon questions collide endlessly.
I’m exhausted, I’m loosing the fight I fought so long for.
I begin to tremble, the wall starts to crumble.
Vulnerability seeps through cracks;
Control is slipping from my grip.

Control comes from my fear, fear stems from my vulnerability.
My body whispers to me;
Just let go.
I finally surrender.  I listen and embrace the warmth and trust of my body.
Alas, I feel replenished. The battle is no longer and all I had to do; was let go.

I hope to keep this up and get better at it with each practice 😊✍🏻

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So I decided to give poetry ago, this piece is really rough but practice makes perfect right 😜

This poem is called:

The Healer

The mind can be a scary dark place
If you let it be;
Blinded by the torment of your own demons.

Nevertheless, do not forget you are the healer of your own universe.
You are the expert.
Turn fear into courage, turn fear into strength.
Show love and kindness to your torment and demons.
So they can shine light from within the darkness of your mind.

Finally, a path that leads outwards into the distant horizon.
I take a quick glance back and thank the demons for their time.
But their time is up...
I wave goodbye; my demons become allies.
Alas! I feel the self healing.

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Early morning run yesterday. I got roped into the couch to 5k. So far so good, clear head = clear mind 🏃‍♀️👌🏼

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‘Interlunar’ - My favourite poem ever ( ish - apart from the others) 

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‘Interlunar’ - My favourite poem ever ( ish - apart from the others) 

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One of my very favourite poems ever by Margaret Atwood on learning to live with darkness

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More later but this for now one of my all time favourites - seems very relevant to our current time too

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I’m rather fond of this from Rabindranath Tagore...

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Rachel’s post about poetry made me think of this online SW publication in response to Covid - it has a piece in it on poetry and I have messaged the two authors to get their suggestions on here! Watch this space

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Third Edition, May 18th, 2020 - Social Work 2020 under Covid-19

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As this issue shows, those experiencing services, students, social workers and academics have been sending in a wide range of contributions with poetry, videos and a cartoon to be found alongside more academic type articles. We are delighted too to showcase reflections on Greece and Australia.

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So I’ve started reading another book and sometimes when I’m reading it I get overwhelmed of how beautifully written it is. Before each chapter there’s a stanza from a poem. I thought I would share this with everyone as I think this speaks volumes. This one says “be patient toward all is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”  This was by a man called Rainer Maria Rilke  😊

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He’s very busy at the moment.  I suspect eggs have hatched!

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I’m so lucky to have this on my doorstep 😀

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Came across these beautiful nursery of geese and their babies on my morning walk 🚶‍♀️🐥There was 14 babies in total (couldn’t get them all in the pic 🙈)

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As this Padlet was set up at the start of lockdown and that’s now starting to be lifted then perhaps now is the time to draw the Padlet to a close too? Do carry on posting if you want and thanks to all who have supported it over the last months. It’s been a great way of staying in touch

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So I decided to jump on the band wagon and I downloaded the plant app. I discovered today I have 16 different types of plants growing just in my garden. Looking forward to trying it out at the park! My favourite in our garden is the Taiwanese photinia 🌱🤓

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Watch closely ....... 🦌

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I am hoping I don’t lose touch with this as lockdown ends....

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According to ChirpOMatic. He was singing his soul out...

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Wandle wandering at the weekend and this evening. Great Spotted Woodpecker, River Wandle shallows, Moorhen Chick and Flag Irises

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When your 16 year old is quite bored with their homework 🤣🤣

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hope you are all keeping well. I apologise for not saying hello earlier - I've found social media tricky since spending so much time at home - feels like work and home merge into one and often I feel I am on the periphary and I don't have anything worthwhile to say. But this feels like a supportive and inspiring space.
For me, spending time in my garden has been helpful. Nurturing, appreciating, seeing things grow, being surprised and understanding that nature and life evolves in ways past our knowing is inspiring and reassuring. Anyhow I am waffling. Hope you all have good weeks - it's nice that we have a 4 day week and a lovely bank holiday weekend ahead!

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So I woke up this morning and I knew today was going to be a tough day and I had a serious “wobble.”  I decided to go for a walk round the park get some fresh air and clear my head.  The first entrance I walked through I saw this little nursery of baby geese, and just like that my head was much clearer and the “wobble” I had was gone.  I can’t thank nature enough for the joy it brings me, especially on days like this one 🙏

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Today should have been my daughter’s wedding day. The house would have been full of noise, laughter and anticipation about now. It seems awfully quiet. I know it will happen, but my heart aches for her and I can’t even give her a hug.

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Update on my plant identifier app - it works really well!

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So since lockdown I have picked up a few new hobbies. But this one in particular is simply amazing. I’ve been reading up a bit about astronomy and wanted (still want) to buy a telescope, sadly the make of the one I want seem to be sold out. So I found this app is £2.99 but it allows you to see planets, stars, meteors, constellations and gives detailed information about each object you see on it.  I’d encourage people to give it a try if you haven’t already purchased it 😃

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The city from stunning Norfolk park at 7.30am. A wonderful start to the day

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A piece I wrote with Marie Price from Chichester University Social Work about the research we carried out last year

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by Denise Turner and Marie Price

The minute's silence held this week commemorated the many NHS and care staff who have died from Covid-19. Last week also saw tributes to Muhammad Islam, the social worker who recently died from the virus. On the news and social media, similar reports are now a grim daily reality.

Much of the professional response to bereavement and death, both before and during the pandemic has focussed on end of life care and the importance of advance care planning. While this is undoubtedly valuable and useful guidance, it is important to note that many of the deaths occurring within the current pandemic are sudden and unexpected - often of relatively young people who expected to live for decades. Despite a recent downwards trend, life expectancy has generally increased within the last few decades, with many expecting to live into old age. Covid-19 has altered this beyond recognition and the impact on the national psyche cannot be underestimated.

Planning for our own sudden and unexpected death, or that of a loved one means preparing for the unthinkable."

Yet at this time of global pandemic this is what may be required from all of us.

Prior to the pandemic, a prescient study between social work departments at London Metropolitan University and the University of Chichester explored the impacts of bereavement among social work students. The research unearthed a need for greater training on the complexity of death, dying and bereavement, both within pre-qualifying training and continuing professional development. In this unparalleled time, findings from this research can help social workers with supporting people facing previously inconceivable grief and loss.

Culture and ethnicity

While Covid-19 is often referred to as 'indiscriminate,' recent research has shown that it is having a more devastating effect on the BAME population. Data from our research study also highlighted cultural factors as highly significant within death, dying and bereavement, where western models still largely dominate. Many participants described struggling to support bereaved people from different ethnicities on their placements, while BAME students faced setbacks with accommodating their own cultural rituals and practices:
"So, I had to take some time out to go back to Jamaica and that meant I was away from placement, my first placement...I felt like I was on quicksand...and that gave me a lot of anxiety, which I still have. A lot of it."
During the current pandemic the requirement to socially distance has created similar issues. Many mourners are unable to attend funerals, or join in with their customary rituals and traditions, thereby limiting their capacity to make meaning from the death. This is highly significant, as students in our study also described how bereavements became both enduring and interconnected. Grief from earlier bereavements may be reawakened by a subsequent death and where, as now, there are limited opportunities to observe cultural rituals and to mourn with others there may be a greater risk of complicated grief and accompanying factors. One student in our study described finding herself completely unable to take advantage of the support offered until she would reach out to:
"A few of the security guards that talked me down a few times, and sat with me at 3 o'clock in the morning......."
Practical support

While talking therapies were offered, students did not always access these. Many students mentioned the importance of practical help, in addition to, and sometimes instead of, talking therapies:
"There are obviously things now where you have grief counsellors and stuff....but I don't know if I would have taken it up if it was offered to be honest...close friends and family were doing a good job in terms of making sure I was clothed, that I was eating, that I was taking care of myself."
Within the pandemic, these findings show that practical assistance, like sorting out finances or helping to buy food can be invaluable during bereavement, and may also be therapeutic for those feeling overwhelmed and otherwise powerless to assist.

All bereavements are unique

Perhaps most crucially, at a time when expert advice on grief and loss abounds, data from the study demonstrates that all bereavements are unique. In the ensuing months and years, as we begin to emerge from the ongoing threat posed by coronavirus, this will be important to remember. There will be no return to 'normal' life, when thousands of people have been bereaved by the sudden, unexpected deaths of friends, family and colleagues. The 'new normal' will necessitate coming to terms and making meaning from this unparalleled grief. Achieving this will require the assistance of social workers, who, in turn, will need the necessary skills, training and support to work effectively with a multiplicity of bereaved service users.
Denise Turner is a senior lecturer at London Metropolitan University. Marie Price is a senior lecturer at the University of Chichester.

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How social workers can support people facing inconceivable grief in the pandemic

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by Denise Turner and Marie Price The minute's silence held this week commemorated the many NHS and care staff who have died from Covid-19. Last week also saw tributes to Muhammad Islam, the social worker who recently died from the virus. On the news and social media, similar reports are now a grim daily reality.

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Picture This - a way of identifying plants

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Picture This - a way of identifying plants

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Going out on walks has become the event of the day so I downloaded this app. It identifies plants ! So I’m finally learning a bit of botany!

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No walk again. Combination of writing and preparing the family Zoom quiz for tomorrow keeping me busy. So, here’s a little something from my 4 year old grandson...

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This was from a walk last week, back when it was sunny ☀️ 🦆 🐥

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Beautiful views across the city last night as day slips away and night creeps in. The bird song was a glorious accompaniment.

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I’m becoming obsessed by sheep and lambs. I might give up the day job!

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Tomorrow’s trip out may need to be LIDL. So here’s some nature from an earlier lockdown walk ...

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Not loving the rain today .....  ☔️ 🌧

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A rather public display of a private matter!

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A rather public display of a private matter!

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Not sure the last photo did the 50/50 tree justice 🌳

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Slightly behind with my Padlet posts, a busy few days, missed connecting with others on here.  This is what I came across this morning. A beautiful tree 🌳 1/2 green 1/2 burgundy, spring and autumnal colours combined. Stunning 😀

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Slightly behind with my Padlet posts, a busy few days, missed connecting with others on here.  This is what I came across this morning. A beautiful tree 🌳 1/2 green 1/2 burgundy, spring and autumnal colours combined. Stunning 😀

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From today’s walk. Weather doesn’t look great tomorrow. Perhaps that’ll give me the impetus to write...
Pied Wagtail, Jay & Greylag Goose

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A piece we wrote for the Chief SW Northern Ireland 

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A piece we wrote for the Chief SW Northern Ireland 

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Giving a voice to bereaved people in Northern Ireland

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Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)

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Featured article - 27 April 2020
By Dr Denise Turner (London Metropolitan University) and Dr Amanda M L Taylor-Beswick (Queens University Belfast)

We are pleased to have been invited to write this blog, at the request of the Chief Social Worker for Northern Ireland Sean Holland. Sean reached out to us due to observing the ways in which the current global health crisis was affecting longstanding burial and mourning practices in the Northern Ireland context.

Many people from a variety of faiths and cultural heritages will have experienced restrictions on their usual customs, rituals and practices so important in the process of burial and mourning. In Northern Ireland there are many longstanding practices such as visiting the bereaved at home, religious ceremonies, wakes and lifts of the coffin, funeral processions, gatherings at the grave and other traditions that have continued through generations and remain important to this day to many in the community. The paying of respects and the rituals around death are often collective and expressed in common as recognition of a shared loss of the individual.

Please send your comments to this email address: DeathandDyingUUandLondonMetBlog@health-ni.gov.uk. The link will remain open for comments for 3 days from 9.00am Monday 27 April 2020 to 9.00am on Thursday 30th April 2020.

When a loved one, be they a neighbour, colleague, friend or family member is lost, gathering with others has long been an important way for people to come together to console and to condole, and to pay respect to the deceased and to their family, as well as to commemorate the person in a manner according to their beliefs and values.

Be it through the communal sharing of music, ceremony, prayer, food and even drink, through the shaking of hands or the shedding of tears, the paying of respects and the rituals around death are often collective and expressed in common as recognition of a shared loss of the individual and a shared responsibility to recognise and mourn their loss.

Sean was keen to explore the matter further, in terms of offering a public response and asked that we consider sharing some thoughts due to our respective research interests. For Denise, the complexities of death and dying and for Amanda, the impacts of digitalisation on the social world. Together we want to begin by acknowledging the deaths of our fellow humans across the globe at this time, COVID-19 related or not, particularly given the physical distancing measures in place, that are impacting so acutely on grief expressions.

Please send your comments to this email address: DeathandDyingUUandLondonMetBlog@health-ni.gov.uk. The link will remain open for comments for 3 days from 9.00am Monday 27 April 2020 to 9.00am on Thursday 30th April 2020.

The customs and rituals which sustain individuals, families and communities in times of grief have become casualties of the virus

On 12 March this year, only a few short weeks ago, the UK Prime Minister, warned the public that 'many families in Britain will 'lose loved ones before their time.' Since then the death toll from COVID-19 has risen remorselessly as people's family and friends become daily statistics in media and other briefings. In this unparalleled situation, the customs and rituals which routinely sustain individuals, families and communities in times of grief are particularly crucial and yet these too have become casualties of the virus. The highly contagious nature of Covid 19 has led to restrictions on people visiting dying loved ones in hospital resulting in little or no time to say that all important final farewell, or even to process the sudden and unexpected death of someone who weeks before may have been physically fit and healthy.

The collective nature of the pandemic also means that death and dying is confronting groups of people and populations in exceptional ways. In more conventional times, talking about sudden, unexpected deaths has proven difficult in cultures where there may be a reluctance to contemplate these topics. COVID-19, presents us with an opportunity to change this and to learn from each other in the sharing of grief. Perhaps too it will provide a way to permanently erode taboos around dying, where these exist, so that people can be helped to create the meaning which is so crucial to the grieving process.

A complicated time in the world

COVID-19 has also created many challenges and complications for our social world and the burial and grieving processes are no exceptions, for example, placing restrictions on numbers of mourners at funerals. In some cases, this has led to an increase in live streaming, with restricted access to the body, and an absence of the physical proximity and comfort often associated with mourning. An additional issue is the impact on the bereaved of the loss of culturally specific rituals and traditions associated with bereavement. Research evidence demonstrates the necessity for people to make meaning from a death in order to avoid the difficulties associated with complicated or disenfranchised grief. Much of this meaning-making is culturally specific, including social gatherings, often in the form of a wake, to remember the person who has passed. Where people are not able to mourn together in traditional ways the bereavement process may be negatively affected, creating difficulties in adapting to life without the deceased person.

To connect, to reminisce, to remember

What we, and indeed Sean, want to think more about is if or how alternative methods, in particular digital methods, are useful for sharing a loss experience. Whether existing online networks and channels can help families and friends to connect, to reminisce, to remember and to share in the grief experience. What we have become aware of, is that while death notices in local papers continue to be actively used, for some the purchasing of hard copy newspapers has greatly reduced. As a substitute for making a loss known, some people are turning to social media. For example, posting long and detailed eulogies, with accompanying photographs on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, where families, friends and friends of friends can offer support and share memories and stories in ways that are felt to be fitting, comforting and respectful. However, there are also people who are not connected to social media and may miss the opportunity to join in and add their farewells. We are interested to think about how they too might be included and supported to make connections with others.

We are seeking to gather experiences and insights that we can share with others

We recognise that there can be no substitute for longstanding death rituals. They are longstanding for a reason because of the comfort they bring, but your experience during this emergency may help others to find ways to find and make connections that will support them during grief and loss. A recent article in The Guardian highlighted a rapid increase in people joining online 'Death Cafes' to talk about their deceased loved ones, while many people post simple obituaries to social media, sometimes asking for recommendations of poems, or virtual hugs.

We are seeking to gather experiences, stories, examples and insights that we can share with others, about how people are expressing and sharing their loss amongst their families, friends and the wider community. We hope the blog will enable us to think about this together, and if appropriate to offer a webinar about what we have learned from your experiences.

Do you live in Northern Ireland and have you experience of using the digital world to express condolences or share grief with others during the COVID-19 pandemic? Perhaps you have used a social media platform to pay your respects to a loved one, or taken part in a funeral that has been streamed online? If you would like to contribute your views or experiences about how you have been able to connect with others to express condolence or share loss during the COVID -19 Pandemic, please get in touch with us at the address below.

Please send your comments to this email address: DeathandDyingUUandLondonMetBlog@health-ni.gov.uk. The link will remain open for comments for 3 days from 9.00am Monday 27 April 2020 to 9.00am on Thursday 30th April 2020.

Useful resources and support

If you have been affected by loss or a bereavement or are supporting other who are grieving you may find is useful to be aware of some of the resources and services provided below.

CRUSE bereavement care provide a range of service and resources to support people to cope with grief and loss. The CRUSE helpline Freephone number is 0808 808 1677 and is open Monday to Friday 9.30am - 5pm with extended hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings until 8pm or by email at helpline@cruse.org.uk. CRUSE have developed resources about COVID-19 which you can access on the web links below.

The Northern Ireland Social Care Council developed an open learning resource, "Hope, Hints and "How To" - Helping you respond to living and dying issues during COVID-19.

GriefChat is a safe online space where people can share their story, explore their feelings and be supported by a qualified bereavement counsellor. The service is free of charge and is open Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm (UK time) for people who are grieving or bereaved.

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In recognition of how COVID-19 is affecting the death rituals for people in Northern Ireland

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Featured article - 27 April 2020 By Dr Denise Turner (London Metropolitan University) and Dr Amanda M L Taylor-Beswick (Queens University Belfast) We are pleased to have been invited to write this blog, at the request of the Chief Social Worker for Northern Ireland Sean Holland.

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Fields looking really dramatic on my walk today

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My daughter bought me a subscription for a craft box - different thing once a month! This month is a Pom Pom cushion!! Fantastic distraction at this time!! Pom poms everywhere!

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Not seen Shelduck here before.

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This came through my door today 🙂 if anyone is in the Barking & Dagenham area look up www.furtureyouthzone.org or www.lbbd.gov.uk/let-us-know-if-you-need-help-or-support. Or alternatively you can email bdcan@lbbd.gov.uk. Future Youth Zone are pairing up with Barking & Dagenham council and BD  Collective. It’s called BD CAN. People will be volunteering to pick up medicines, food shop, friendly phone calls and any other support people may need in these difficult times. #humanityatitsfinest

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My friend sent me this from her walk. Thought it would put a smile on peoples faces 😊

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Took a different turning and found this!!

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I'm looking forward to the weekend!

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Coronavirus face masks around the world - in pictures

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From cut-up T-shirts to bandanas, donning some kind of face covering is becoming the new norm

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Ngz
Isolation is part of growth process.Embrace it.. 😜Goodmorning every one...

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My little girl, who’s 9 has turned her bedroom into a Relaxation room.  Last night I had a massage and then she asked me to write a love letter to myself for when I feel down with ideas of things to make me feel better.  Super soothing!

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Found this fellow on our walk today

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Interesting competition for student social workers

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How do we build stronger relationships between social workers and people using services?

That's the question being asked in this year's social work student's essay writing competition by the Social Workers Union.

Essays must be between 750-1,000 words and the four winners will receive £500 each plus see their work published in a BASW e-book celebrating the association's 50th birthday.

John McGowan, general secretary of SWU, said: "The relationship between social worker and service user is a key element of the process of engaging and working together. Connecting with and actively engaging service users will make them feel at ease when they link with services so what better theme to have for our future social workers?"

Entries should be typed, include full the entrants name, the question title and references. Email to joanne.marciano@swu-union.org.uk by 5 June.

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How do we build stronger relationships between social workers and people using services? That's the question being asked in this year's social work student's essay writing competition by the Social Workers Union. Essays must be between 750-1,000 words and the four winners will receive £500 each plus see their work published in a BASW e-book celebrating the association's 50th birthday.

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I guess someone was trying to give a message !

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Appreciated the walk this evening. Glorious sunset - tomorrow I will write...

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Tree reflected in The Stock Pond at Sunset - Beddington Park (2).JPG

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As the article says, “it’s ok to have a wobble.”  I feel as though some days in isolation are positive and productive and others not so. It’s times like this that I reflect and realise we’re not superheroes, we are humans and it’s ok to find things hard sometimes and in this respect we need to be kinder to ourselves when we do find things hard (acceptance). The most important thing is to find hope in stressful times, when times seem to be hard you strive for positivity. But always remembering it’s ok to have a “bad day” because no two days are the same 😊 (Hope). Ps I think a “wobble room,” would be beneficial in every work place 😆

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Hospitals in Lincolnshire have set up "wobble rooms" to give staff a break from the pressures of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.

The United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust said the rooms would allow workers a chance "to shout out loud, have a little cry or just sit quietly".

They have been introduced as part of a plan by the NHS to support employees mental wellbeing during the pandemic.

A national hotline has also been set up, staffed by mental health charities.

It will see more than 1,500 volunteers from charities including Hospice UK, the Samaritans and Shout, listen to staff and give psychological support.

Kat Mayer, who works at Lincoln County Hospital, shared photos of one of the rooms on social media, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

She said in the post: "Our Wobble Room, aka the stationary cupboard. It's basic, but has been created with love and positivity. Well done team."

"Crying is not a weakness, it shows strength. We are not superheroes."

In a statement, the trust said: "A wobble room is a space dedicated for staff to go for a few minutes, away from everything to shout out loud, have a little cry or just sit quietly.

"We put up motivational pick-me-up posters, and have our staff wellbeing booklet in them, so staff have support information straight away.

"It's ok to have a wobble sometimes."

A SIMPLE GUIDE: How do I protect myself?

AVOIDING CONTACT: The rules on self-isolation and exercise

LOOK-UP TOOL: Check cases in your area

MAPS AND CHARTS: Visual guide to the outbreak

STRESS: How to look after your mental health

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Stressed hospital staff get 'wobble rooms'

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Hospitals in Lincolnshire have set up "wobble rooms" to give staff a break from the pressures of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. The United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust said the rooms would allow workers a chance "to shout out loud, have a little cry or just sit quietly".

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A photo I took a few days ago. It’s about as exotic as it gets here in sunny Essex 🤓. Also don’t worry I was completely safe it wasn’t hissing, it was just curious of my presence. The swan quickly got bored of me and swam away!

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Evidence is starting to point to mask wearing so interesting hack here

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The US Centers for Disease Control recommends that all Americans wear face masks in public to reduce transmission of Covid-19. The agency maintains that "it is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus," and advises that simple cloth coverings can prevent people who may be infected without knowing it from transmitting the virus to others.

Jeremy Howard, a University of San Francisco researcher and the co-founder of Masks 4 All, explains how to create your own, with no sewing required.

Photograph: Masks 4 All

Start with an old T-shirt, preferably 100% cotton - anything will do, as long as it's not too thin - and outline the pattern of the mask. The bottom line should go just beneath the armpits of the shirt. Make sure the part that goes on your face is large enough to cover your nose and mouth.

Cut along the lines through both sides of the shirt so that your mask has two layers.

Place a safety pin along the bottom and insert a piece of paper towel or coffee filter in between the two layers of the T-shirt. This acts as an additional filter, and rests on top of the safety pin.

Secure the mask around the front of your face, covering your nose and mouth. Tie the top straps under the back of your head and the bottom straps at the top of your head. That will ensure a nice fit underneath your chin. By covering your mouth, you have now protected those around you, and the better the fit, the more you're going to also protect yourself.

Mask instructions CDC -- mobile and desktop

Start with a handkerchief and two hair ties. Rubber bands are okay as well, although they will be less comfortable.

Fold the handkerchief in half, along a horizontal axis, and make a nice crease.

Place piece of paper towel or coffee filter at the center of the handkerchief. Fold the top down and the bottom up, so that the coffee filter or paper towel rests in the fold.

Place your first elastic about one-third of the way in from the edge of the handkerchief. Place the second elastic one-third of the way in from the other side. The two elastics should be about one hand-width apart.

Fold the left side in toward the center and then fold the right side in toward the center, tucking the right side into the left-side flap.

Don't wear it at home, and don't wear it in the car, unless you're with people outside your regular family group. Don't wear it more than necessary - just wear it when you're in a public place, like a supermarket, where you might be within 6ft of people. It may not be necessary in a park or on a quiet street with few pedestrians, when you're moving around.

Don't remove the mask until you're at home or in a place where you can wash your hands and avoid coming within 6ft of other people. When you do remove the mask, avoid touching the front of it in case you breathed in infected droplets that could now be there.

Remove and dispose of the paper towel insert. Place the rest of the mask in soapy water, soak it for two minutes, then wash and rinse. Any kind of soap - dish soap, laundry detergent, hand soap - will do. Then wash your hands, and disinfect with bleach or alcohol anything you touched after taking off the mask. Never reuse a mask without washing it first.

Next time you wear the mask, remember to replace the paper-towel insert.

If you have symptoms - a stuffy nose, a cough, a fever - stay inside.

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How to make a non-medical coronavirus face mask - no sewing required

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The US Centers for Disease Control recommends that all Americans wear face masks in public to reduce transmission of Covid-19. The agency maintains that "it is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus," and advises that simple cloth coverings can prevent people who may be infected without knowing it from transmitting the virus to others.

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My favourite bit of the day- walking after work with my family

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Home schooling is kicking my butt...

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Sunday Times article 19 April 2020

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Coronavirus: 38 days when Britain sleepwalked into disaster - The Times and The Sunday Times

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Boris Johnson skipped five Cobra meetings on the virus, calls to order protective gear were ignored and scientists' warnings fell on deaf ears. Failings in February may have cost thousands of lives

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It's been a while... Hope everyone is well and safe...

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One of the cheering things about all this is the inventive ways people keep humour alive! This is a sign in the window of a nearby house where they are clearly home schooling!!!

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My connection with nature this morning, the beautiful blossom reminds me of the new season incoming and brighter days ahead

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Today I bought The Times. I know! Occasionally however, it’s good to learn how the other side thinks (and I like the Jumbo Crossword on a Saturday!) In the magazine is an article about Isabel Hardman’s book with this title. Isabel talks about how connectedness with nature is helping her to manage her severe depression. I was struck by the synergy between this and my posts (and others) about nature here on our Padlet. I wonder, when this moves on to its next stage, if we will retain (strengthen?) that connectedness to strengthen us all.

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And then there is art and imagination with a touch of humour 

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And then there is art and imagination with a touch of humour 

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Not my creation. Worth sharing though...

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As Rachel’s Pooh Bear tells us - not everything is cancelled. Spring continues apace and nature can provide solace in isolation.

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Love this, so I thought I should share with you all.

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This is a very good opportunity, given by the nature to get recover wasted energy & correct Human practices for the better tomorrow. Be creative & innovative to survive.

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Self disciplines are so important to face to a situation like this. Social Worker is capable to use social media as well as electronic media to improve self disciplines as well as level of self empowerment. Developing skills,  Creating supportive environment, Strengthening community actions, Developing healthy public policies & Re-orientation of Health services would be some specific actions, facilitating by social workers.

Prasanna Samarawikrama
Health Promotion and Social Work practitioner
Sri Lanka
Whats app: +947128878555

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Birdsong- a backdrop of this strange time

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Animals really are taking over. I particularly like the Deers at Harold Hill, that’s not too far away from me 😁. I’ll be sure to keep my eye out for some!

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In many countries people have been told to stay at home to try and stop the spread of coronavirus, which means far fewer people are out and about.

And when humans are away, the animals come out to play!

Lots of creatures, from deer and goats to monkeys and even a puma, have been making an appearance in places you wouldn't normally expect to see them.

Some have come to big towns and cities in search of food, while others look like they're making the most of their freedom with humans out of the picture.

A herd of fallow deer were seen grazing on the lawns in front of a housing estate in Harold Hill in east London.

It's thought they came from the nearby Dagnam Park, and spent the morning lazing on the grass.

Meanwhile in Japan, the local deer have also been out and about exploring. They normally live in Nara Park, a popular tourist attraction, where more than a thousand deer roam freely throughout the year.

But now that tourists aren't around to feed them they've been wandering into the city in search of food.

Photos and videos posted on social media have shown herds of 10 to 15 deer wandering through city streets and subway stations, dodging traffic and eating people's potted plants.

We're used to seeing a few squirrels climbing trees and running around in the park, but in one park in California they've certainly been making the most of the peace and quiet - to do some sunbathing.

In a video posted on social media hundreds of squirrels can be seen chilling out on the grass catching some rays.

An alligator was seen enjoying having a beach all to himself in South Carolina in the US.

He also wandered across the road to the local shopping centre - clearly no one told him all the shops were closed because of the coronavirus.

You'd get quite a shock if you saw something like this outside your front door, but that's exactly what happened to people in the city of Santiago in Chile, South America.

Local experts think it must have come down from the nearby mountains in search for food.

In the US city of San Francisco coyotes have been roaming the empty streets, with many people having a surprise coyote encounter when they're popping out to get groceries.

It even looks like the coyotes having been enjoying some of the city's famous tourist sites. including the Golden Gate Bridge.

It's not unusual to see monkeys on the street in Thailand, but there have been a lot more than normal about recently as they've been coming in search of food.

Tourists who normally keep them well-fed are staying away due to the coronavirus outbreak, which led to hundreds of monkeys running around the roads, fighting over scraps.

So many monkey were seen on the streets of Lopburi that people were making comparisons with scenes from Planet of the Apes

People who live in the city of Venice in Italy have reported seeing fish and ducks in the canals after coronavirus lockdown left the streets and famous canals empty.

There's also been a visible improvement in the quality of the water, which now looks crystal clear.

It's thought this is partly due to the big reduction in boats, which kick sediment to the surface, making the water darker and more murky.

Lansdowne House

A herd of goats has taken over a deserted town centre of Llandudno eating hedges and flowers from gardens.

Usually, the wild herd of about 122 Kashmiri goats only venture from their home in the Great Orme during bad weather.

But the town councillor said she thinks the goats were curious and came looking to see where everyone had gone.

Italians have also seen sheep and horses wandering around without a shepherd or rider in sight.

Un-baa-lievable!

In some countries it's not unusual to see boars roaming around in public.

The Spanish city of Barcelona is another place where they've been spotted over the past few years, but now that there's even fewer people around, the boars are making the most of their freedom.

People on lockdown have been posting on social media with stories of seeing the wild animals bolding strolling through quiet, deserted streets.

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Coronavirus: Animals takeover cities during self-isolation - CBBC Newsround

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In many countries people have been told to stay at home to try and stop the spread of coronavirus, which means far fewer people are out and about. And when humans are away, the animals come out to play!

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Rainbow Rafts River Wandle

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I found this on Twitter. It’s brilliant!

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This is Charlie. He is often asleep, but still lovely company 🐱

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Really useful

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We will aim to keep this page updated with the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) social work advice, BASW updates and information

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A time for Reflection 😊

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Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

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The coronavirus crisis gives us a time for reflection

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Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates.

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I found 13!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

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Painted by my beautiful and talented friend Nichol. A special piece completed to raise funds for a variety of organisations in conjunction with other crafters. 🌈 💕

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Lovely rainbow from @jowarner01s family

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I found this really helpful- hope others do too

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Hey for anyone interested in yoga. I found a great app (free to download). It’s for all types, from beginners to advance. Give it a try ☺️

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With Down Dog you get a brand new yoga practice every time you come to your mat. Unlike following pre-recorded videos, Down Dog won't make you do the same workout over and over again. With over 60,000 different configurations, Down Dog gives you the power to build a yoga practice you love!

BEGINNER FRIENDLY
Start in the comfort of your own home with our 3-day Intro to Yoga series, and begin your journey in Vinyasa, Hatha, and Restorative.

MULTIPLE PRACTICE TYPES
Explore Vinyasa, Hatha, Gentle, Restorative, Yin, Ashtanga, Chair, and Sun Salutation practices.

RELIEVE YOUR BACK PAIN
All our practices work to strengthen and stretch your back - if you want more, you can use the Boost feature to specifically target Backbends, Back Strength, or Low Back Opening.

CHOOSE VOICES
Choose from 6 different yoga teachers to be guided by a voice you love.

DYNAMIC CHANGING MUSIC
Music that rises and falls with your breathing.

OFFLINE
Download a practice for offline use and take it with you anywhere! Practice in your living room, in a hotel, or on the beach.

SYNC BETWEEN DEVICES
Automatically syncs across all your devices.

BOOST FEATURE
Focus on 20 different practice areas to really sharpen a particular area, or to vary up your routine by rotating through them all.

MULTIPLE LANGUAGES
In addition to our 6 English speaking voices, all yoga practices are available in 9 other languages!

"I LOVE your app. I am a physician and I recommend it to my patients all the time, for those suffering from anxiety and panic disorder to those with low back pain. I can't thank you enough for bringing yoga back into my life- making it so accessible, approachable, and convenient." -James

"Love it, as always. You guys have changed my life. I'm not a T-Rex anymore and I can move without back pain. Thank you :)" -Sharon

"Restorative mode is perfect for my 71 year old body!" -Margaret

"I am absolutely thrilled with the quality of this practice. I felt like I was in a studio and I was really sweaty and challenged. Well done!" -Emily

"After just one Yin session, I can feel a *huge* difference in my flexibility." - Alexandra

Integrates with the Apple Health app!

Memberships cost $7.99 per month or $49.99 per year (prices for non-United States customers will vary) and will be charged to the user's iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew and will be charged within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and renew at the original purchase price. Subscriptions may be managed and auto-renewal may be turned off from the user's iTunes Account Settings but refunds will not be provided for any unused portion of the term.

Down Dog's terms and conditions can be found at https://www.downdogapp.com/terms
Down Dog's privacy policy can be found at https://www.downdogapp.com/privacy

Version 4.6.1

We have made all our apps completely free until May 1!

So far so good!

I have been practicing yoga on and off for 10 years and just started up again with a small class once a week. I wanted to supplement my class practices at home with something I could do daily. I have used other yoga apps before but they were 'meh'. I like this one as you have a real person narrating, you can see them in the poses and you have a music selection. You can do a full on hour long practice or a quick 10-20 minute one. You can do beginner or advanced (I am beginner/intermediate). I have done about 4 practices so far with this app.

The only thing I would caution folks about is to be sure you are doing things correctly. I cannot stress enough the helpfulness of a real class with a real teacher to tell you when you are not in a pose correctly, or maybe alternate forms of the pose if you have neck, shoulder, hip, whatever issues. This statement is not for just this app but for anyone who wants to start yoga and think it is a good idea to do it via app only without instruction. You can hurt yourself. Instruction also helps you improve your yoga ability.

One awesome thing that could be added is a meditation 'set' here. Say at the end of a short stretching yoga practice, spend say about 5-10 minutes with a guided meditation. Something to think about but in no way detracts from this app. Maybe it is here already and I have not found it yet. I know there are separate apps for this. Namaste!

Best yoga app I've used

I'm astounded. They got it all right with this app, and it's hard for for me to find the patience for yoga. The process and the way I feel afterward is amazing, and I never feel patronized, pseudo-spiritual, or like I'm trying to be a soccer mom. From the language used in the narration, the soothing yet energizing voice, the musical selections (and option for no music) the quality of the images.. I'm just really happy with Down Dog. Evidently there are in app purchases, but I probably wouldn't have realized that if it wasn't indicated on the app description. It's not in-your-face at all - I'm going to have to go back and search for them. And I will, because the quality of the free product is so amazing. Maybe I sound like I'm gushing- it's just that I have never had the patience for yoga before. It was one of those things I thought I maybe "should" do. I have used this app 5 times in 7 days, and always feel amazing afterwards.

UPDATE: it's over a year later, and I'm still using and loving Down Dog. I also paid for the upgrade, mostly because I wanted to support them so much, but it also unlocked some great features. I am impressed with how the app has evolved and how responsive the team is. Even when life is at its most chaotic, I can fit their 10 minute sessions in every night before I go to sleep, and longer sessions during the day whenever I can. Thank you, Down Dog!

Best app for yoga

I started off with this app a little over a year ago when I wanted to start meditating and centering my mind due to anxiety. I didn't want to go to yoga classes because they are very expensive and I was afraid of looking dumb and inflexible. I practiced each day for at least 10 min for about 3 months, I then saw a deal on Groupon for some classes at a local yoga studio and I bought it. After the first class the teacher came up to me and said they were happy to see a new face and that they hoped they see me again. They asked me if I had been practicing long and I informed them that I had been practicing for about three months, they then asked WHAT STUDIO I WENT TOO!? Hahah they were surprised when I said it was a app. Down dog! I recommend this app to all my friends and family who want to start their yoga journey. I had their free version on my phone for about 8 months, I now have the paid version because I trusted the app and was willing to pay a small price compared to what i would pay at a yoga studio each month. I was prepared to deepen my practice, and I knew this app would help. Now here I am a year and a half later, loving this app still (using this for a majority of my practice) and anxious to be attending a yoga institute in July 2018 to become a yoga teacher! I love yoga and I Love this app. I cannot stress that enough!

Information

Compatibility

Requires iOS 9.3 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Languages

English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Copyright

© 2020 Yoga Buddhi Co.

In-App Purchases

Down Dog Membership $3.99

Down Dog Membership $29.99

Down Dog Membership $9.99
more

Family Sharing

With Family Sharing set up, up to six family members can use this app.

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‎With Down Dog you get a brand new yoga practice every time you come to your mat. Unlike following pre-recorded videos, Down Dog won't make you do the same workout over and over again. With over 60,000 different configurations, Down Dog gives you the power to build a yoga practice you love!

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Beauty in a confined space

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Colouring in with grandkids via zoom. Theme Superheroes

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Colouring in with grandkids via zoom. Theme Superheroes

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Nice moment shared on zoom with my grandkids as we coloured in "TOGETHER" over zoom.

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Morning has broken...

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There's something fishy going on here???

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There's something fishy going on here???

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Lovely colouring to say thank you to social workers 

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Lovely colouring to say thank you to social workers 

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Shared via @chelleyprincess on Twitter

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Death Dying and Social Work under Covid 19 

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Death Dying and Social Work under Covid 19 

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A piece drawing from research carried out jointly with University of Chichester in 2019

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The Prime Minister's stark warning only a few short weeks ago, that 'many more people will lose loved ones to coronavirus,' signalled an increase in fatalities that is now a grim daily reality and personal nightmare for many. Whilst media reporting and public support has understandably focussed on the work of NHS staff, social workers nationally are under pressure as they grapple with people who have experienced the sudden, unexpected death of someone close to them. These daily struggles are set within an already stretched Health and Social Care sector, where the average retention rate for social workers prior to the COVID-19 outbreak was the lowest in the public sector (ONS, 2019).

Deaths from coronavirus are also set within a national context where dying and bereavement remain largely sequestered from public discourse. A major national survey , carried out by YouGov in 2018 on behalf of the Co-op, found that 18 million people in the UK are very uncomfortable talking about death, whilst 5 million would not talk about their own deaths.

Amongst the recommendations of this research were the need for more opportunities for talking about death, increased education on death and training, and greater support following bereavement. A parallel study , undertaken by the Royal College of Physicians in 2018, titled 'Talking about Dying', also showed that many medical staff struggle to have honest conversations about death and dying.

Amidst this public and professional context, a collaborative study carried out by the Social Work department at London Metropolitan University and the University of Chichester, during 2019, investigated bereavement support and training for social work students and those in their first year of practice. Findings from the study further demonstrate a lack of training on death and bereavement within initial social work education and continuing professional development, leaving a pervasive gap in the knowledge available to social workers. Participants in the study also reported an extensive deficit in bereavement support, leading to a social work student who experienced the death of a service user being told simply: You have to be more resilient about death.'
Funerals and mourning customs
Additionally, the study found a similar deficit in culturally specific bereavement training, for example, funeral and other mourning customs which are crucial for aiding the bereavement process. This is highly significant during the current outbreak of COVID-19, where the restriction on numbers of mourners at funerals has led to an increase in live streaming, with restricted access to the body, and an absence of the physical proximity and comfort often associated with mourning.

In these circumstances, traditional bereavement rituals such as the Muslim practice of washing the body may be impossible, creating potentially major repercussions for those experiencing a difficult and unexpected death. Bereaved people in these circumstances will often turn to social workers who may lack both the expertise and the professional support to offer effective assistance.

At a time when death and dying are confronting everyone through the news media and personal or professional experience, findings from this 2019 study and other major national research indicate a critical need for education and training to equip social workers, members of the public and other practitioners, with the language, knowledge and resilience needed to manage both the immediate and longer-term outcomes of death, dying and bereavement.

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Death, Dying and Social work under COVID-19

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The Prime Minister's stark warning only a few short weeks ago, that 'many more people will lose loved ones to coronavirus,' signalled an increase in fatalities that is now a grim daily reality and personal nightmare for many.

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One from the other day from my afternoon stroll 🐥

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Wednesday April 8 - book now !

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Digital Technology and Social Work Webinar

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Join Ruth Allen, Chief Executive of BASW, Godfred Boahen, Research & Policy Officer, BASW and Denise Turner, chair of the Digital Capabilities for Social Workers Project and Senior Social Work Lecturer at London Metropolitan University for this timely webinar on social workers digital capabilities, and the role of digital technology in supporting social work practice during the current coronavirus outbreak.

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Via @happierday on Twitter 😆😆
Creative uses of self isolation!!

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Life is altered! This scourge shall pass too!

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Helping to entertain and keep me calm all at the same time 

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Helping to entertain and keep me calm all at the same time 

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Vinnie 🐶