This week the government launched the #InThisTogether campaign for people to Stay Connected, Stay Active and Stay Mentally Well during COVID-19

The Campaign encourages everyone to pick a new activity which could help them to feel a little healthier or a little better as we deal with Covid-19. It signposts useful advice to help people of every age group to cope with the ongoing restrictions, whether they are looking after children, dealing with self-isolation, preparing for the Leaving Cert, or coping with cabin fever.

All this information is being made available on gov.ie/Together, on your local authority website, on social media, television, radio and newspapers throughout the Emergency and you can find details of local initiatives on your local authority website.

In This Together will offer regular videos, ideas and activities for people of all ages throughout the Emergency, over social media, through the media and promoted by the Community Call Forums which have been set up across Ireland.

Some highlights include:

• A Let’s Play Ireland initiative to encourage playtime for children, with online resources for storytelling, playful learning, and Play for Play’s Sake coming online

• Every home can take part in a virtual Bloom At Home where well-known gardeners, Show Garden designers and Bord Bia Bloom staff will share their advice and tips throughout May, encouraging people to prepare their own plants and gardens, balconies and window boxes for a national celebration. This will culminate in a final virtual Bloom Day showcasing the nation’s efforts

• Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which attracted 750,000 visitors in 2019, will be reimagined as a digital and virtual Fleadh for 2020. TG4 and RTÉ is partnering with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to deliver this special 2020 event

• Live concerts over the internet and social media through #IrelandPerforms

• Motivational exercise videos for people of all ages from Irish athletes

• Music-making initiatives for young people

• Online classes in dance, meditation, and movement

• Virtual classes in traditional skills like weaving, printing, basket making, jewellery, ceramics

• Educational tutorials for young people including learning an Irish-language song, or making your own podcast

• Thousands of e-books and e-audiobooks that you can access at home

• Activities for young people from Gaisce, Foroige and Comhairle na nÓg

• Walking challenges to encourage people to exercise in their locality

In This Together also draws together the huge range of advice and support that’s available online for people of all ages, including:

• Advice on parenting, entertaining children at home and creating a daily routine

• Cooking and advice on healthy diets

• Advice on mindfulness and looking after your mental wellbeing

• How to support your vulnerable neighbours and family members

• Online advice for Leaving Certificate students with up to date information on this year’s exams, and details of practical and psychological supports currently available, as part of a broad package of supports for Leaving Certificate students.

The initiative brings together National Government, Government Agencies, Local Government, Media, community and voluntary sectors, and the Community Call Forums around the country.

Wellbeing initiatives right across Government are being collated so that information can be easily found, either on Gov.ie or the relevant Local Authority websites.