On Thursday 24 February, Russian forces launched a large-scale military offensive on Ukraine, putting the safety of millions of Ukrainians at risk.
Future Foundations stands in solidarity with all those that are affected by the emerging conflict and calls for every effort to avoid a further escalation of violence.
We have taken the decision that we will suspend receiving any paid bookings or proceeds towards our programmes for the foreseeable future from Russia.
As an organisation, committed to supporting every young person to reach their full potential, to be leaders in their lives and society, we want to share with our network resources* to help educators with supporting children during this time. We will continue to update this, and invite our community to share with educators and parents.
If you have any resources to contribute, please email info@future-foundations.co.uk
Our friends have shared the following resources:
- Facing History and Ourselves have shared curriculum and lesson plans for educators:
- Curriculum – our Head, Heart, Conscience Teaching Strategy
- If you are seeking a lesson plan that can help you tackle the specifics of this crisis and present some of the historic context that has sparked these events, we recommend the “Crisis in Ukraine” teaching resource from our colleagues at the Choices Program – “Crisis in Ukraine”
- Global Citizen have shared ways we can help:
- https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/ways-to-help-ukraine-conflict/
- This includes a link to a list of organizations where you can donate to help people affected by the crisis (put together by Ukrainians)
- We would like to highlight: UNICEF Ukraine is repairing schools damaged by the bombings and providing an emergency response to children affected by the conflict. Find out more and donate here.
- This includes a link to a list of organizations where you can donate to help people affected by the crisis (put together by Ukrainians)
- https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/ways-to-help-ukraine-conflict/
- Global Dimension have shared a teachers guide to the conflict, designed to support proactive and informed classroom discussion
- The National Youth Agency (UK) has created an area on our website with toolkits and signposts for youth workers and those working with young people in England to help you navigate conversations with young people about the crisis in Ukraine
Resources and guidance on current information regarding Ukraine being shared
- Supporting your child if they see upsetting content online about what is happening in Ukraine (Childnet)
https://www.childnet.com/blog/supporting-your-child-with-upsetting-content/ - We should not hide from children what is happening in Ukraine (Schools Week/Children’s Commissioner)
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/we-should-not-hide-from-children-what-is-happening-in-ukraine/ - How to talk to children about what’s happening in Ukraine and World War Three anxiety (Metro)
https://metro.co.uk/2022/02/24/how-to-talk-to-children-about-whats-happening-in-ukraine-16163133/ - Help for teachers and families to talk to pupils about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how to help them avoid misinformation (Department for Education)
https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/02/25/help-for-teachers-and-families-to-talk-to-pupils-about-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-and-how-to-help-them-avoid-misinformation/
Other resources around discussing war and international violence
- How and when to talk to children about war, according to a parenting expert (Independent)
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/children-war-talk-russia-ukraine-b2023695.html - How to cope with traumatic news – an illustrated guide (ABC News, Australia) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-23/illustrated-guide-coping-traumatic-news/5985104
- Talking with Children About War and Violence in the World (Family Education, US)
https://www.familyeducation.com/life/wars/talking-children-about-war-violence-world - Tips for parents and caregivers on media coverage of traumatic events (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, US)
https://www.nctsn.org/resources/tips-parents-and-caregivers-media-coverage-traumatic-events
*Please note these resources have been sourced by trusted members of our community and have not been fully verified by Future Foundations