My guest today is Merel who is the choir master for the Long Covid Kids Choir. Merel talks about children with long covid and how they lack support and understanding from the wider society. Merel who lives with Long Covid herself wanted to find a way to support children with Long Covid, she contacted Long Covid Kids Charity to find out how she may be able to help and thereafter the Long Covid choir began. Merel explains how the children find a social element to the choir with peer to peer support, creating a social circle that the children can express themselves in and feel safe and understood. We also practice a breathing exercise (please join in with us, it is very therapeutic!). Merel and I discuss her own journey with Long Covid and the impact this journey has on all elements of life, Merel explains how gaslighting has caused a stigma and psychologising of people living with Long Covid and that she has taken comfort in her own part of the Long Covid kids choir. Children with Long Covid need recognising and have their voices heard, having the choir is a great platform for this, we decide during the podcast the children should aim to be Christmas number 1 and I hope the whole Long Covid community would support making this happen! This is a great episode and I hope to raise more awareness of children, their siblings and parents who are living with long covid. If you would like to know more about the choir or to join click on the link below. As always, one day at a time and please take care. Links from todays episode: https://twitter.com/@LCKChoir2022 https://www.longcovidkids.org/team/merel-van-der-knoop  https://twitter.com/@merelpianist https://twitter.com/@LongCovidKids https://www.instagram.com/@merelsmusicroom Choir videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt7gtBf3Uco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtMyrSZyTSs My Links: https://linktr.ee/joulest https://twitter.com/julieTa58407536 https://www.facebook.com/livingwithlongcovid/ https://www.instasgram.com/julietaylor9545 https://amzn.eu/d/9v9MP4v https://amzn.eu/d/1QVK8zn - Return to work planner https://amzn.eu/d/a1Safxc - well-being planner https://www.julie-t.com/ - Julie Taylor life coaching website Long Covid Clinic (Julie Taylor & Dr Binita Kane - contact; [email protected] for more information