With funding from the National Emergencies Trust Barnardo’s launched ‘Boloh’ (meaning ‘speak’) on 1st October 2020 to support young people and parents from Black, Asian or ethnic minority backgrounds who were disproportionately impacted by covid-19.
Boloh is a national service with Helpline Advisors based across the UK.
Specialist Helpline Advisors work in a culturally informed manner and are knowledgeable about the lived experiences of parents and carers from these communities.
Our Helpline Advisors speak a range of languages including English, Punjabi, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Albanian and Polish. We can access Interpreters when required.
Over the last 12 months they have received over 1900 referrals for support.
To reduce increased pressure on local healthcare systems, Barnardo’s has been funded by NHS England and Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to provide a helpline advising on respiratory illnesses, focused on supporting parents/carers from Black, Asian and Minority communities.
The Boloh helpline can provide advice, guidance and signposting support to partners/carers who are unsure about what to do if their child has a cough, cold or chest infection. We can provide information about:
- Chest infections in their child
- How to access the right health support
- Self-managing respiratory infections at home
Helpline advisors can also provide parents/carers with practical support to meet their child’s needs, including help to register with a GP. Advisors can call you back at a time that suits you.
Their advisors will help you understand the key symptoms to look out for. Give them a call if you need practical advice and support on:
- How to manage mild symptoms in children at home
- Best ways to seek medical support
- Registering with a GP surgery
- Contacting the NHS 111 helpline
- Meeting your child’s needs, for example providing food, clothes, tech devices, household items and others
Please Note - Staff do not provide clinical advice, but have been trained by health professionals to signpost you to the right medical support when this is required.
For more information give them a call on 0800 151 2605 or visit their website. You can also visit the NHS Website for more information.
