Rugby Council officers have identified five key issues facing residents, including damage to student mental health caused by isolation, financial hardship and concerns about layoffs.

The five issues were compiled in a rugby council report intended to examine the future of the council’s subsidy system.

Of particular concern was the mental health of school-aged Rugbeians, with a focus on how the lockdown measures affected their mental well-being.

They consist of: “High degrees of social isolation and loneliness observed throughout the pandemic (protection hub and customer contact center).

“The Citizens Advice Bureau reports problems with the increase in referrals from young people who have never used counseling services or the benefit system. pandemic.

“Skills gaps to access potentially available locally available jobs have been noted.

“Youth mental health is a problem given the prolonged periods of isolation. There had previously been reports of increased self-harm among high school students in parts of the borough before the pandemic.

“Healthy eating programs administered by the council have highlighted i) a lack of budgeting and cooking skills ii) heavy reliance on microwaves and take-out iii) lack of awareness of some foods / food groups. “

Partly based on the above, the officers’ report argues that the rugby council’s grant system should remove funding restrictions so that grants can be made to programs that best address the above issues.