During this challenging period, Porth Cymorth Cynnar has established a virtual platform to ensure that we are able to keep in touch with vulnerable residents across Ceredigion. Due to the restrictions introduced to safeguard our communities against COVID-19, many residents will not be able to access their usual provision or support such as parent groups or GP Referral Exercise Classes. Instead, we are ensuring that all residents whom are known to our services, and others, are kept in touch with, through regular welfare calls, should they wish.
Around 2,000 residents from young people to families to carers, who may require or benefit from regular contact whilst their service is not operating in its usual form will receive communication from our staff.
To date, almost 2,000 welfare calls have been made, and have been well received by people across Ceredigion. Residents have said that it is great that someone is keeping in touch with them, to give them an opportunity to have a weekly phone call and someone to talk to.
Mr Davies* (name changed for anonymity) is used to attending weekly GP Referral Classes as part of his recovery at the local leisure centre. Mr Davies’ NERS Exercise Referral Instructor has been keeping in touch with him during this difficult period. This resident has not only benefitted from a chat with his instructor, but also has the opportunity to follow virtual exercise videos to be able to keep up his exercises from the comfort of his own home.
During Mr Davies’ weekly phone call, he shared information with our instructor that he was extremely concerned about his friend and neighbour, who is registered deaf and blind. Mr Davies’ friend was relying on his friend to support him daily, but this was no longer possible due to their self-isolation. Although this resident isn’t a NERS participant, our instructor contacted Porth Gofal to seek support for the individual from the Local Authority’s Rehabilitation Officer for the Visually Impaired, who has since organised additional support for this individual.
Ceredigion’s NERS Instructor Videos can be viewed on Ceredigion Actif’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram Pages.
If you, or anyone you know would benefit from the Keeping in Touch Service, please get in touch with Clic on 01545 570881 or clic@ceredigion.gov.uk who will triage your query to Porth Cymorth Cynnar.
Porth Cymorth Cynnar are also regularly updating resource lists which are available on the Ceredigion County Council website here: http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/coronavirus
01/04/2020