Barnardo’s: There is a Place Where There is no Pandemic, 1

Forever Beta is publishing a bedtime storybook specifically written to remind and reassure children that there is hope and happiness to look forward to beyond the pandemic. Even with the prospect of going back to school in March being announced by the Prime Minister last night, the pandemic will still limit our lives - and the lives of our children lives for months and months to come. Called "There's a Place Where There’s no Pandemic" the book uses fond memories of the world before the pandemic to gently remind children and their parents that once the pandemic ends, the world will still be a place where they can hug they’re loved ones or visit their granny, where people are smiling and they can feel safe. 100% of the proceeds will go to Barnardo’s. Aimed at children aged between four and 10 years old, the book launched on the 22nd of February, the week where kids all over the UK were looking forward to going back to school before the government extended school closures back in January. It will be priced at £9.99 with all proceeds going to Barnardos with Forever Beta paying for all production and printing costs. The book was written by Forever Beta creatives Majken Gram and Felipe Faria (their first one), after witnessing the effect the pandemic was having on the children around them, realising how easy it was to forget how stressful it must all be to a child. Their desire to help was solidified when they saw research from the University of Oxford showing that during the first lockdown children aged 4-10 years of age saw increases in emotional difficulties, such as feeling unhappy, worried, being clingy as well as further physical symptoms associated with worry. The book was illustrated by Bruno Rovarotto whose aim with the design was to create ordinary moments, such as meeting neighbours or visiting granny, and portray them in the most extraordinary way.