Halifax charity urges adults with learning disabilities to come foreword - after seeing drop in users

Studies show adults with learning disabilities are more at risk of coronavirus

Magpies
Author: Hannah NorburyPublished 8th Apr 2021
Last updated 9th Apr 2021

A charity which supports adults with learning disabilities in Halifax, says they've lost service users due to the risk of covid-19.

In the first lockdown, members of Magpies were shielding, and then came back to the service, but had to shield again once the second lockdown started.

Some older members also found other things to do, whilst the service was closed for 6 months during the pandemic.

During the time they were closed they offered virtual meetings, but feel face to face contact is what people need for their mental health.

Many users have now had their first vaccine and the team at Magpies are encouraging people to use the service once again.

Chloe Beckett from Magpies said:

"It's really important people know we have all these measures in place; we are running smaller bubbles, wearing PPE, doing temperature checks, doing all we can to stay safe. It's really important people come for their mental health and wellbeing."

Dawn Newsome is the operations manager, she said:

"Some of our service users have down syndrome too, which is quite a high risk, so parents and carers have decided to keep people at home.

"At the moment we have bubbles of 6, every member has been assigned to a bubble and they stay in that bubble to reduce contact.

"Hopefully going forward when we can make bigger bubbles we will start with more activities."

Whilst some people might be anxious to attend the centre, the charity are offering an outreach service.

Members of the team will go to people's homes to support them.

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