Lent resources for Week 3. This is a time where we can "get deeper rooted" in prayer as the Cardinal asked us to do yesterday. Pray for those who are ill and those who have died in this crisis and we ask for the protection of Our Lady to see us through.

As you manage the consequences of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to reach out to you about the YCWs current position concerning your groups. We understand that your work with young people will be affected by the crisis –- and that the activities that you do may also affected. I want to be clear that the safety of YCW staff, chaplains/adult companions and the young people is the most important. I recognise that as you prioritise this, there might be changes to your meetings, the numbers of young people you have attending, disruption to visits and events. We are approaching this based on the assumption that you will be still meeting. However, if you need to make any changes to your meetings or arranged visits we are ready to support these on a group-by-group basis and will try to be flexible to accommodate these. I’m also aware that these are busy times so we’re not expecting your response in the next few days. At the YCW HQ we will carefully look at your situation so that we can make decisions about how we can support you as quickly as possible. However, we won’t be able to give you guidance or an opinion on whether your group should pause or stop your activities –- that is entirely for you to decide based on your own risk assessment, and government guidance. The YCW is currently continuing to work as close to ‘business-as-usual’ as possible. At the YCW HQ we have put measures in place that is in line with the advice and guidance of the World Health Organisation, Her Majesty’s Government and of course the Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales. It also has been decided that due to Government advice that the 81st YCW National Council due to take place on Saturday 25th April 2020 will be postponed until further notice. Below are some links for you to look at from Government advice to dealing with mental health. We hope that you continue to pray for each other for our YCW friends in Europe and beyond as we ask for the protection of Our Lady in this time of crisis. We will endeavour to be in constant communication with all our groups and we urge you in groups or individually to look at ways in which we can help the elderly and vulnerable

Gospel Enquirys for the Second Sunday of Lent plus one from Wednesdays Gospel. They can be downloaded from: http://www.ycwimpact.com/downloads

On the 23rd February 2020 the @ycwimpactandy Groups organised a conference on Mental Wellbeing. They were joined by an academic from the University of Cumbria. A big thank you to Steve Walker (Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for Working with Children and Families BA & MA) for visiting the Group and his write up. http://www.ycwimpact.com/news/2020/3/5/ycw-leads-young-peoples-health-and-wellbeing-conference

Lent 2020 Gospel Enquirys for the First Sunday of Lent plus one from Mondays Gospel. They can be downloaded from: http://www.ycwimpact.com/downloads