In lieu of its typical school holiday workshop program, which was cancelled due to COVID-19, the group has been hard at work putting together "boredom buster boxes", which have begun distribution around the region.

The boxes contain a range of items, from toys to self-help activities, all things kids in their early teens can use to keep themselves busy across the summer months.

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Uniting Wimmera team leader for Youth Support Kate Waterworth said the boxes were a considered approach in how to engage with youth in the region during the time of COVID.

"We contacted Headspace, who were able to arrange a youth focus group to provide feedback," she said.

"We asked the youth focus group about our idea and what we wanted to include in the boxes, and they came up with some suggestions about what would be appropriate."

Each box contains a booklet produced in partnership with Headspace Horsham, containing mindfulness exercises, self-help activities, information on mindfulness and mental health apps, and origami.

"We have some things for kids to make as part of a family, for example cake or brownie boxes," she said.

"I think we tried to cater to everybody. There are things that can be used alone, in a lockdown, but also things that can be used with other people."

Beyond the usual participants in Uniting's school holiday workshops, the group also reached out to schools in the region to see if students were interested in receiving a box.

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Ms Waterworth said interest has been strong, with 300 requests coming in from all areas of the Wimmera.

"Some young people will look at that box and perhaps have never had something like that sent to them before," she said.

"We also have things in there that they may want to give to a friend or a family member.

"It is about them using the box in a way that is meaningful to them, which I think I really nice."

She said Uniting has had to think of unique and creative ways to engage with their clients and the wider public during the two years of the pandemic - and looks to carry the lessons born from COVID into its regular youth programs.

"It has been really challenging, but we have learned many different ways of doing things," she said.

"I would say it makes me excited for the work that we can do in the future as well, having that information about how we can do things differently.

"We wouldn't be letting go of those things, we will be adding them into what we already do. Although it has been challenging, from COVID we have thought of ideas that we wouldn't have done previously, such as this one."

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