Midland Mencap online activities praised
A charity for people with learning difficulties has received an overwhelming response after launching a range of online activities aimed at providing support and entertainment during these tough times.
Every month Midland Mencap provides services and support to more than 250 adults and 45 children with varying levels of needs.
Dave Pickard, head of community services, said: “The impact of social distancing has been huge on the users that access our services, as their routine has come to a standstill which can be really distressing for some people.
“The place where they meet with their friends and supportive staff came to a sudden halt in a very short period of time.”
The charity took to social media, using Facebook livestreams to provide a range of engaging activities for anyone to take part in.
Mr Pickard said: “Our social media content has been phenomenal - we have ensured that there are at least three ‘how to’ videos going out each day for people to engage with and try at home.
“We also have at least one Facebook live per day, which has had such an amazing response. The best thing about the livestreams is the interaction we get from the people watching.
“On a Monday we do a virtual café which has had some great topics of conversation, and recently included a live phone-in based on a weekly topic.”
The virtual café is just one example of what is on offer with activities ranging from salsa classes, to quizzes, to mindfulness workshops. The services don’t end with the livestreams either, with many other options available for people to access the support they need.
Mr Pickard added: “We have been making more than 1,000 safe and well calls each week to people who are known to our services, or people that have seen our social media content and have requested that we contact them for a daily friendly phone call.
“We have also sent more than 100 activity packs per week to keep people busy and distracted at home with a range of activities.”
The online activities and access to all other services can be found by searching 'Midland Mencap' on Facebook.
