Centre for disabled puts measures in place for users ahead of the easing of lockdown

A SPECIALIST centre for people with learning and sensory disabilities has started making provision to extend its services in anticipation of any possible easing of the current lockdown.

For the past seven weeks Aspace2 in Londonderry has delivered an activity programme to trainees through remote access.

Daily sessions of yoga, Zumba, quizzes, art/upcycling, Spanish, musical improvisation, ceramics and mindfulness via Zoom have kept this group of vulnerable people occupied and active.

While these have been very successful, the strain of being away from the centre takes its toll on the people who use it every day which has led to staff revamping the centre in readiness if lockdown measures are relaxed.

Managing director of Aspace2 Martina Bell said: “The young people who use Aspace2 are at the cognitive level that they don’t understand what is going on and this is very stressful for them.

“The facilities available at Aspace2 is the only environment that can provide relaxation and or the opportunity to regulate and reduce the anxiety they are going through now.

“The reality is that access to the centre and use of the multi-sensory gym or the training kitchen is so important to the people with learning, sensory or physical disabilities who come to us.

“We are now ready to provide these services as soon as the Government relaxes the lockdown because we have revamped the way in which they will be provided to include single use with extended thorough cleans.”

Ms Bell added: “Within days of our centre having to close, our team had resource packs for ‘doorstep drop-offs’ for all our trainees including the delivery of IT devices for those who didn’t have them so they would not be starved of our services and this will continue but reopening the centre is what needs to happen.”

SIXTY-FIVE per cent of people in Northern Ireland are content to stick to the stay at home lockdown rules for “as long as it takes”, according to a survey.

The results of the survey — conducted by the Fight Back Safety Twitter campaign — come as Health Minister Robin Swann warns people to maintain social distancing throughout the Bank Holiday this weekend.

The poll, which had more than 1,600 respondents when it was held in the sixth week of the lockdown, also revealed that a further 25% of people said that they could “hold out” for another month. Meanwhile, 10% said they couldn’t “take it any more” in relation to the lockdown continuing.

When asked if they would feel safe visiting a restaurant which was serving fewer guests in adherence to social-distancing measures, only just under 40% (38.9) felt confident, while 28% said they would “not feel safe”.

A third said they would adopt a “wait and see” approach.

The survey also revealed that family finances are a source for concern for people here, with 59% saying they can maintain a loss of earnings “for now, but not indefinitely”, while a fifth admitted they are worried about money. However, 21% say they will be fine as long as furloughing and other government support continues.

Alcohol consumption has also increased, with 47% saying their alcohol intake was up — compared to 23% of people who said their drinking habits were unchanged by the lockdown.

A spokesperson for the Fightback NI campaign said yesterday the survey results showed that people in Northern Ireland are “selfless” and will undertake the actions required to “save lives”.

“The survey shows that local people are prepared to stay the course and put up with the lockdown restrictions as long as is deemed necessary. People (here) are selfless,” they said.