FOLLOWING ON FROM THE PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT AND LOCKDOWN NUMBER 2 STARTING TODAY THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5TH 2020
Headway Northampton is remaining open to our clients. We are doing everything we can to keep clients, and staff safe. We do have to limit the people we can have in the building at any one time, and we have again made changes to days clients attend to enable us to help as many as possible. We are asking that everyone remains as vigilant as we are,
MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, WASH YOUR HANDS AND COVER YOUR FACE
We are not allowing any visitors to the unit during the lockdown, and we are asking that all support workers arriving with clients wear a mask/face covering throughout the day. We will continue to sterilise all areas before and after they are used, all equipment, seating and tableware at lunchtimes will be labelled and boxed ready for each individual. Everyone will have their temperature taken before they enter and if using any mobility aid this will be sterilised before entering. We have to limit who we have in the unit and those clients that are clinically more vulnerable will not be able to come at the moment. We will keep in touch through social media and telephone and we are trying to organise opportunities to access using virtual technology.
Despite the loss of fundraising income, the events that we have had to cancel, and the fundraising opportunities being undertaken by individuals either being cancelled or rearranged for next year, Christmas is coming and the corona virus can’t stop it happening. So clients and staff will be decorating the unit next week, putting up the lights, and bring some much needed hope to us all. Although we won’t be able to celebrate as we have done over the years with large gatherings for Christmas Lunch and Festivities we are making plans. Together we are stronger and since we began in someone’s front room all those years ago we have always been a social, community based unit where brain injured people could be together without prejudice, be given care, support and practical help to move on with their lives. This has not changed, we have survived the loss of premises, funding and grants, and some of the larger staff team we once had, but we are surviving. Even with a small team of dedicated staff we are still available at the end of the phone to anyone that needs our help. The phones are manned from 10am till 4pm for 4 days per week. We will make plans to move forward and will be posting our ideas on the website and Facebook.
Margot and all the staff at Headway Northampton.
KEEP SAFE
Watch this space – and please keep following the rules, stay in your bubble, keep washing your hands and sanitising regularly, maintain social distance of 2 metres – and cover your face with a mask.
