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Barretstown Live: Adapting to COVID-19

The challenge of COVID-19

The challenge of COVID-19

This year has been an extremely challenging year for Barretstown. The COVID-19 crisis has forced us to make the incredibly difficult decision to postpone our traditional camps and programmes until a time whereby it is safe to resume. Although this is very disappointing, the safety of our campers, volunteers and staff has to remain our priority.

But in true Barretstown fashion, we were not going to let COVID-19 stop us from bringing some much-needed Barretstown Magic to our campers, not by a long shot.

That's why we're incredibly proud to introduce...

Barretstown Live!

Taking on a new Challenge

Taking on a new Challenge

Within days of hearing the news that we would be facing a lockdown in March 2020, our incredible team were already hard at work to find new ways of serving our amazing campers that need us, now more than ever before. The COVID-19 crisis means that children with a serious illness like those who come to Barretstown, who are immune-compromised, are currently more isolated. They need our therapeutic programmes more than ever.

At Barretstown, we've become experts in providing fun-filled, magical moments, and even with our gates closed temporarily, we are still creating memories for children and their families across Ireland. Barretstown Live is our new, interactive, online platform allowing us to continue to offer our life-changing programmes to homes nationwide.

Barretstown Live Virtual Camps

Barretstown Live Virtual Camps

Each Saturday and Sunday, families from all over Ireland are invited to attend a live, full-day camp with a schedule of fun and engaging activities, providing laughs and excitement for the entire family. These programmes still meet all the aspects of our onsite therapeutic programmes that make Barretstown so unique.

In advance of participating in our programmes, families receive a ‘Barretstown Live’ activity kit which contains everything they need to participate in the day's activities. 

Take a Closer Look
New Programmes

New Programmes

Throughout the Summer & Autumn period, our campers were able to join us for a number of three-day virtual camp programmes. We know how important it is to stay connected, so campers were grouped together by age, into both teen and kids camper groups.

Our teen campers love the fun element of camp, the high energy activities and the chance to get to know and chat with fellow campers. Our virtual activities have been created with this in mind, offering our campers the chance to connect with one another and expand their support circles through the best way possible – Camp!

During our kids camps, campers could enjoy activities such as arts and crafts, baking, spy school, prank party, and whacky science with classic camp dances, skits and songs to brighten up everyone's day. As with all of our programmes, we make sure to cater for the needs of every camper, so there's always activities they will love getting stuck into!

Our Virtual Fun Doesn't Stop There!

Our Virtual Fun Doesn't Stop There!

That’s not all. We have also been sharing some Barretstown Magic with families all over the world through our weekly Facebook live and IGTV broadcasts.

Every Thursday at 4.30pm, our camp team host a live IGTV 'InstaCamp' on our Instagram Channel. Each episode in the series brings some brilliant new games and activities for our live audience to get involved with. Viewers comment in answers, ask our hosts questions and have a few laughs throughout. You can catch some of our episodes on our instagram page by visiting @barretstown_camp.

Every Friday from 4.00pm, the camp team also host an hour long Facebook Live show, tailored to our younger audience members to enjoy. This has been a huge success with many families tuning in and engaging each week, whether it be in new arts & crafts activities or learning a new camp dance. Click below for a look at some of our previous Facebook Live shows.

Facebook Live
Barretstown Live Outreach Programme

Barretstown Live Outreach Programme

We have also extended our hospitals' programme to bring some Barretstown magic to the children who are feeling the effects of COVID-19 restriction on visitors even more so than ever before. With playrooms closed and tighter restrictions around hospital movement, these children have been in desperate need for some serious play, which is exactly what our outreach team have been able to facilitate through the Barretstown Live initiative.

We need your support

At Barretstown, we’re doing everything we can to continue to support our campers and the children of Ireland in these very challenging times. The children Barretstown serves already suffer the effects of isolation due to the impact of a serious illness and the current situation is only making this worse. We need your help now more than ever as we continue to provide this new online platform, allowing us to continue to deliver life-changing programmes to these children and their families  that need us most.  
  

Will you please Press Play and donate to Barretstown today?  

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