A YOUNG writer has carried out reporting and interviews as part of her lockdown learning.

Maisie Barker, nine, from Liskeard, has always liked creative writing, but her project on the coronavirus is the first time she has done any journalism.

After coming up with some questions and with a little assistance from her mum Rachael, Maisie found several people willing to be interviewed on social media, including a teaching assistant, a home support worker, a businesswoman and an older couple who have been shielding at home since before the lockdown began.

Maisie’s questions included: What has helped you get through the coronavirus pandemic? What have you learned from the experience? Has it affected your mental health or anyone else in your household?

Local veterinary nurse and part-time farmer Georgia told Maisie that farmers are still working just as hard as ever through the lockdown to care for animals and keep Britain fed.

The upsides of her work during the pandemic have included having wide open spaces to enjoy while tending to livestock. But adhering to the restrictions makes the veterinary job a challenge.

‘Making sure that we maintain social distancing and trying to treat animals on an emergency-only basis makes the job very difficult. Trading as a farmer, everything has changed and its pushing everyone’s mental health to the limit,’ she said.

‘The stress is putting immense pressure on us all and we have animal welfare at the forefront of our minds, which means we are not only stressed out about our own well-being but about the animals too.

‘My partner and I have maintained a strong relationship throughout the lockdown period. We count ourselves very lucky to have what we have. I’ve learned that life “as normal” is something we should never take for granted again.’

While some of Maisie’s interviewees told of how they were feeling less stressed during the lockdown due to having more time at home, others, such as community nurse and single mum Nicola in Derbyshire, were experiencing huge difficulties.

‘I made the decision to take my children to my parents at the beginning of lockdown, they live 200 miles away. This was very hard to do as my children are my life, but with my job exposing me to COVID-19 patients I am not able to see them.

‘I have been working 12-hour shifts six or seven days a week as we are seeing COVID-19 patients in their homes.

‘At the beginning there was no PPE available. I have contracted the virus, and I have been very unwell. I am in week three now and I still get a tight chest and still cannot taste or smell anything.’

Reading some of her interviewees’ answers had made Maisie feel sad, she said.

‘I didn’t like the situation Nicola was in because she had to send her children away.

‘I didn’t like some people’s answers – I felt a bit sad for them.’

Hillfort pupil Maisie says she wants to make a newspaper ‘without any help’ as her next project and that she would like to interview Boris Johnson about ‘why he made some of the decisions?’

And Maisie’s own advice for keeping positive during the pandemic?

‘Try to have fun. We do pranks on dad – but he gets his own back.’

Look out for some of Maisie’s interviews which we’ll be publishing over the coming days on our website!