Coronavirus Crisis - Our Response

In March 2020, we sadly had to temporarily close our centres. Our staff quickly developed new ways to provide services to people at home and thanks to our wonderful supporters, we raised £15,000 through a public appeal. This generosity helped us to keep reaching people with learning disabilities in new ways.

As restrictions continue to change, we are delighted to welcome clients back to our centres in new, safe ways. Alongside this we continue to offer our innovative and popular alternative service including online socials and courses, telephone welfare calls, and delivery of activity and wellbeing packs. We are also supporting family carers through our Carers Matter project.

Our Reach Response films tell our lockdown stories

James

Tina

Adam

James & Claire's Story

Adam's Story

Tina's Story

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Chantelle Welsher
Group Manager - Client Services

Hello, I’m Chantelle. I was Reach Newark Centre Manager for 5 years but now as Group Manager - Client Services I oversee all our day service work at our centres. This includes facilitating the changes that need to happen to make our services safe and accessible during the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuring we are following the up to date Government guidelines. I am passionate about ensuring that each person is supported in a way that suits them and that we take time to listen and understand every individual's needs and dreams.

Since March 2020 we have:

Delivered

wellbeing and activity packs to clients

Held

welfare telephone calls with clients and families

Hosted

online learning and social activity sessions

Figures as at 29th January 2021

Jump to our gallery to see how we're staying safe, well and connected

Read our latest newsletter 'Reach Beyond' filled with ideas and activities

Picture of Sue and her husband with their son Dominic

"I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the beautiful flowers that I've just found on our doorstep. Please pass on our thanks to all the team at Reach for everything they've done during the lockdown to help him (and us!) get through this difficult time."

Sue, Mum to Dominic

Our Stories

Reach Newark Tutor Gemma talked to Emma and her Mum, Joy. Emma normally attends Gemma's sewing class and when we had to close, she was part way through a project to make a puff patchwork blanket.

"When I talked to Joy she told me how much Emma was missing this so I called our Centre Manager for advice – I knew this was important for Emma’s wellbeing and wanted to see if there was anything we could do. Within a matter of hours, one of my colleagues had collected Emma’s project and some supplies from Reach Newark and delivered them safely to Emma’s house. These are the sorts of activities we’ve been offering clients to provide some continuity so they know that Reach is still here for them. I’m looking forward to seeing Emma’s finished project."

- Gemma, Reach Newark Tutor

“I was amazed at the speed in which we received Emma’s sewing. You are all doing a great job, thank you, I don’t know what we would do without Reach”

- Joy, Mum to Emma

Oliver normally attends Reach Newark and Flower Pod. His routine is so important to him, the lack of it can be very confusing. His Mum Christine is trying to do similar activities at home to the ones he would normally be doing at Reach on these days.

Oliver said "I pruned some bushes and collected some leaves and made them into a bouquet and put them into a vase. I would like to say that I look forward to seeing you all again at Reach on Monday".

Christine explains that what Oliver says about seeing people on Monday shows the uphill struggle he is having of understanding why he’s not seeing his Reach friends or being able to go out - he really enjoyed himself yesterday in the garden and we’re doing a lot of singing and dancing! Joking aside Oliver is ok and keeping busy.

Oliver sent us an email recently: "Hi everyone, Thankyou very much for my activity sheets and packages. I have planted my seeds and made my wooden bunny and I'm taking good care of them all! I have loved joining in the sessions on zoom and would like to join in the flowerpot chat on Tuesday afternoon. I miss seeing all my friends.Love from Oliver X".

Christine and Oliver would like to say ‘a big thank you for everyone’s support’ in recognition of everyone who donated to Oliver's Giving Tree, raising over £600 towards our crisis appeal. Thank you Christine and Oliver!

"A big thank you to all the team involved with these Zoom sessions. When the activity is staff led James becomes very animated at seeing his Reach friends and staff and he really listens and joins in.

Thanks for this morning's session. James was NOT for joining in, his Dad had to bribe him. Before the session he was sat in the armchair yawning, tears streaming down his face he was yawning so much.  As Tina and Romany will testify, he ended up dancing around the lounge signing his head off!"

- Claire, Mum to James

"Every day I take a dog for a walk, he belongs to an elderly lady who has had a fall. I really enjoy doing this as I love going for a walk and it helps someone else out too. I also work on the work sheets provided by Reach every week but I will be really pleased when we can all get back to normal and meet up with our friends and give them a hug." - Kirsty

"Just to say a huge thank you to Matt from Reach Newark for helping Kirsty so that she could join in with sit and be fit this morning. Above and beyond Matt. Thank you so much." - Marlene, Mum to Kirsty