Closure Announcement:
In response to guidance from the UK Government on the COVID-19 outbreak, we are closing all services for adults, children and carers from 5pm today (Wednesday 18 March), until further notice.
We know that this is a very difficult time for everyone however we have taken this decision with the best interests of our members and their carers in mind. Your safety is our priority.
We will keep you updated through our website and our social media channels (Facebook and Twitter) when we have further information about when we can reopen.
In the meantime, please look after yourselves and each other, and stay well.
Update to our Carers Services: 17 March 2020
We have taken the very difficult decision to cancel all face-to-face meetings with carers until further notice. This includes Keep in Touch, Sunday Lunch Club and Carers Outreach Project (COPe). All appointments will be held over the phone, whilst group meetings will be postponed.
We want to reassure you that we will continue to support carers in other ways, offering practical support, and to signpost you to other help available, as well as helping to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. This work will continue until the crisis is over.
All other services at Sheffield Mencap & Gateway are running as usual for now. Please continue to check our website where we will update this post with changes to other services, as and when we have to make them.
Yesterday (Thursday 12 March) the UK Government announced that the country is now entering the ‘delay’ stage of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) spread.
The Government has not yet introduced further social-distancing measures, such as closing schools and cancelling large-scale events. They have said:
“If we introduce this next stage too early, the measures will not protect us at the time of greatest risk but could have a huge social impact. We need to time this properly, continue to do the right thing at the right time, so we get the maximum effect for delaying the virus. We will clearly announce when we ask the public to move to this next stage.”
In response to this advice, Sheffield Mencap & Gateway will remain open as usual. When we have to take further action in line with the Government’s advice, we will announce this on our website, on our Facebook and Twitter accounts and we will contact the families of our members.
Please continue to protect yourselves by washing your hands more often, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water. Make sure you cough or sneeze into a tissue, put it in a bin and wash your hands.
If you show symptoms of a high temperature (37.8 degrees and above) and/or a new/continuous cough, you should self-isolate for 7 days. This means you should stay at home and avoid all but essential contact with others for 7 days from the point of displaying mild symptoms, to slow the spread of infection.
You can find more information and advice on the Government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response and from the NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.
