MORE than 100 families from all over the world have become firm friends during lockdown as a result

of a programme created by Scottish play specialists.

The online play sessions were set up by Glasgow-based Licketyspit Theatre Company to tackle social isolation and to support families during lockdown.

Around 80% of the families taking part in Big Porridge and Play online are refugees who have given the thumbs up to the games, sing songs and imaginary adventures generated by the programme.

The online sessions are a spin-off from the Big Porridge and Play programme created in 2017 for children living in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Glasgow.

At the start of lockdown, Licketyspit was one of several organisations to address digital inequality through the Scottish Government’s Wellbeing Fund, BEMIS Scotland, the Good Things Foundation and, latterly, Connecting Scotland, to ensure that digital access was not a barrier to participating. The organisation has distributed more than 100 devices. With around 158 different languages spoken in Glasgow, the virtual play sessions have included the hello game where kids share their language, including Kurdish, Yoruba, Hungarian, and Shona.

Part of the sessions also included a series of videos created by children such as Exploring with Zainab, where the 15-year-old Nigerian New Scot goes on virtual adventures to Djibouti, Tanzania and Nigeria.

Feedback from the project has so far recorded a positive impact in terms of families’ mental health.

One mum of three children, originally from Nigeria and now living in Drumchapel, said: “We came here and they had no friends and it made them lonely. But now … oh my god! I began to see Beauty come out of her shell. In school they would ask questions and she wouldn’t want to put up her hand but ever since she has joined she has taken bold steps.”