LOCKDOWN has put a strain on many people’s mental health, but Emma Barton is really worried about children.

“With children it’s hard for them to understand what’s going on in their heads. They don’t realise that their tummy ache may be anxiety.”

So, with the help of local businesses across the Black Country, Emma is helping to put into local schools a number of books aimed specially at safeguarding children.

Her Facebook campaign has helped deliver works by children’s book publishers Usborne to around 20 schools in the Sedgley, Gornal, Woodsetton area.

And now she is expanded her efforts into Dudley and Kingswinford, while Wolverhampton Wanderers are sponsoring books for a Stourbridge school.

The books are not about mental health themselves, but are aimed at helping young children get a better understanding of life.

They are aimed at 4 to 11-year-olds and it’s thanks to Emma, a stylist by trade, starting to do some part-time book organising while looking after her daughters Evie, 7, and Darcie, 5.

Emma, 37, who lives with her partner Darren in Upper Gornal, asks local sponsors for £33 or £38 and then includes special messages and acknowledgements to the sponsors in the books.

'Understanding and managing Mental Health has never been more important than now as we are all navigating through immense levels of uncertainty and change.

“As humans we crave routine and regularity as well as human connection- all things which have been disrupted as a result of the pandemic- these books will support schools to help children understand and manage their emotions at this crucial time '

If you can help go to: https://www.facebook.com/emmabartonbooks/