A Weymouth mum has helped to develop a new online resource to support children suffering with long Covid.

Sammie McFarland, 47, from Weymouth, has helped to create the 'educational toolkit' for children through her charity, with the help of her colleagues, Dr Sue Peters and Kirsty Stanley.

The toolkit was developed to educate and equip teachers to better understand the condition and provide the best support to affected students.

She founded Long Covid Kids in 2020 after her and her daughter developed the condition. The charity offers support to children and their families who are living with the impact of long Covid.

Since then, Sammie has been championing for more awareness after being bed-ridden for nearly a year, and was pleased to announce the new resource.

She said: "Over the past three years, Long Covid Kids has attentively listened to the narratives of more than 11,000 families, children, and young individuals. Our dedicated team of lived experience volunteers is committed to identifying tangible solutions that enhance the health and educational journeys of affected children in a timely and meaningful manner.

“The toolkit we've developed is a testament to our collaboration with children, young individuals, their caregivers and our partners, offering educators empowering strategies to provide the best opportunities for children."

The new toolkit comprises of four videos intended to enhance awareness and knowledge about long Covid and its related conditions among educators. Additionally, it offers practical strategies for them to support students experiencing long Covid.

But whilst there have been resources available to adults, children have been overlooked, with Sammie believing that more needs to be done to support them.

She added: “It has been recognised that adults living with the condition need specialist support and adjustments in order to return to work with long Covid, but the same consideration has not been given to children and young people who are simply expected to attend school.

“These videos have been designed to help raise awareness and its co-occurring conditions as well provide ideas of simple and more complex adjustments that can be put into place to support children to engage in their education which is after all the foundation for their future lives.”

The toolkit is available online on the website at www.longcovidkids.org/educational-toolkit