Children to share pandemic experiences in Covid-19 Inquiry

Researchers are starting to hear from hundreds of children and young people about how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted their lives.

An independent research project was launched in January to hear first-hand experiences of children and young adults.

The project - known as an inquiry - will hear from children of different backgrounds, who were between five and 18 at the start of the pandemic.

It's part of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry's work investigating the impact of the pandemic on children and young people.

A public inquiry is a major investigation set up by government ministers in response to a particular event or series of events that caused public concern.

An inquiry will look at what happened, why it happened, who may be at fault for things that did not go well and what can be done to improve things in the future.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is made up of an independent group of legal experts.

The government asked them to look at the UK's response to the Covid-19 pandemic - including what decisions were made by people in power at the time.

The global pandemic started in 2020 and the UK went into lockdown on 23 March which meant we had to stay inside and only go out for things like food shopping and exercise.

This was because Covid-19 was causing lots of people to become unwell and hospitals were getting very busy.

Not everyone is happy with the choices the government made during the pandemic, and some are angry that some politicians were found to have broken the rules which is why a public inquiry is now taking place.

The Covid-19 Inquiry started on 28 June 2022.

Its aim is to look at the impact of the government's handling of the event, so that people can learn lessons for the future.

Baroness Heather Hallett, a former judge, is in charge of the inquiry.

She is responsible for making decisions, listening to evidence, and sharing what she finds out with the public.

The inquiry has been set up under the Inquiries Act (2005). This means that Baroness Hallett has the power to demand documents or messages and ask people to give information on oath - which means they legally must tell the truth.

In June 2023, the government tried to take legal action to block messages and diaries of the former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, from being released but Mr Johnson eventually handed them over to the inquiry.

In Scotland, a separate inquiry is also being held looking into devolved government's response to the pandemic.

What will be the outcome of this inquiry?

Once the Covid-19 Inquiry comes to an end, a report about the findings will be released and recommendations will be made to help with decision making in the future.

Evidence from experts and analysis of research will be presented alongside the experiences of children and young people.

The Children and Young People's Voices said this will help the inquiry "gain a comprehensive picture of the impact of the pandemic on children and young people and what lessons must be learned."

Baroness Hallett said: "I have always said that this inquiry will investigate the impacts of the pandemic on children and young people."

She also said hearing the voices of children and young people will be "invaluable" and will help her decide what recommendations to give.