As a COVID19 response it has been important to provide adults with learning disabilities some kind of support given that most found themselves in the position of their day service provision closing and being unable to access the usual community-based services.
Understandably, this kind of isolation can have a negative effect on mental health, even more so for people who rely on the kinds of group and community activities for their social support, daily routine and general wellbeing needs.
With many service users being unable to take their usual summer vacation again this year due to the pandemic, Northamptonshire Health Charity have been able to fund Staycation Activity Packs for the Community Team for Adults with a Learning Disability, that aim to provide simple, achievable activity ideas for a summer holiday/festival at home.
The response to last year’s pack was incredible so this was followed up with a Christmas pack, which was again very well-received.
The charity is thrilled to have been able to support the summer pack for 2021 to help support those service users who need one.
Furthermore, we have been able to provide funding for the follow up packs for Christmas 2021 and Spring 2022.
"The Activity Packs have been written in an easy read format, to meet the communication needs of our client group....and we aim to include a range of activities that will hopefully meet people's different interests, as well as meeting people's support need," said Roisin Hand, Occupational Therapist with the team under Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Northamptonshire Health Charity would like to take the opportunity to again thanks everyone who donated so generously to our COVID19 appeal last year and those who supported the NHS via NHS Charities Together.
It is thanks to these donations that we have been able to fund these Staycation Activity Packs for local people in our community with a learning disability.