A small group of BuDS volunteers who are passionate about neurodiversity and learning disability issues came up with some ideas of what we could do to mark Learning Disability week this year. In the end, it was agreed that we would visit a couple of local services to showcase what they offer to people with a learning disability. The purpose of our visits was to find out what the services had to offer before the Covid-19 pandemic began, what happened during the early days of the pandemic, and how the service has evolved and changed since. Below is the second of our reports.
This report follows on from one published a few weeks ago, where we detailed our visit to Thrift Farm. This time, we visited Social Link, to again find out what the service had to offer before the pandemic, what happened during the early days of the pandemic and how the service has evolved and changed since. As per BuDS Covid-19 policy, PPE face masks were worn, and social distancing was maintained.
Introduction
Social Link is a charitable organisation providing day care services for 70 people with learning disabilities, with bases in both High Wycombe and Aylesbury. The High Wycombe centre, which the BuDS team visited, is an old school. This suits the organisation as the different ‘classrooms’ provide ideal rooms for the different groups, while the main hall has room dividers which creates more working areas. The centre is close to High Wycombe town centre which is useful both for transport training, and general accessibility to transport links.
Social Link has now been established for around 10 years, and some members have been involved since it was founded. It is now open 5 days a week during the day, on Monday evenings in High Wycombe, and on Friday evenings in Aylesbury. The members are aged between 18 and 71, and approximately 20-25 people attend the High Wycombe site each day. Funding is provided both by the local authority, and through self-funding and donations. There is also a lot of fundraising which has to take place to provide operating capital.
Life at Social Link before Covid-19
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic beginning in 2020, Social Link operated 4 days a week. Three activities were held for members in the morning. These activities included travel training, hazard training, cooking, crafts, numeracy, literacy, and general life skills. The afternoon sessions were a more relaxed affair, with social activities such as bingo and pool included. The members would also go on both day trips and longer breaks.
Life During The Early Pandemic
In the early pandemic, contact was maintained with the Members via Zoom meetings. These meetings included activities such as Signalong, Makaton, and music sessions. One activity which was very popular at the time (and is now missed) was online gaming. To make sure that the members were safe and well, they were all divided into groups with a key worker. This key worker was responsible for keeping in contact with members, and making welfare checks on a regular basis.
The BuDS team were able to chat to some of the members on their visit. For many members, lockdown was a stressful time, and levels of anxiety increased. Some members expressed how much they missed their friends during this time.
When the easing of Government precautions permitted, groups of members would meet up to go for walks outdoors. As Social Link is run in partnership with Wycombe Arts Council, who have a large garden area, small bubbles would often meet in their garden area. Consequently, gardening became an important activity with some members even taking on contract work. All attendees had regular Covid-19 tests, wore full PPE, and had their temperatures taken before each visit. If anyone tested positive, their whole bubble had to self-isolate.
Gradually, the members were permitted to start attending the physical buildings for activities and meetings. Although the members liked this, full contact with other members and staff was still limited due to the bubble system being sensibly maintained.
During the second lockdown in 2020-21, the Zoom meetings and activities resumed as before. For some of the members, lockdown provided an opportunity for creativity. One member wrote two songs about Covid-19 and lockdown, while another contributed a section to a book which they subsequently helped edit. A Newsletter was also developed and sent out to the members, who also got involved in the process of writing, editing, and publishing it.
In discussion with the members, one person commented that lockdown hadn’t been too bad really. Some members commented that when they were able to meet to go out for a walk it made a great difference and relieved some of their anxiety. One member expressed how she missed seeing her mother who had Covid-19, and how happy she was when she was able to visit again. Some members commented on how much walking they did during the early pandemic, and some reflected on how they would spend time sitting on benches outside in the cold.
New Beginnings Upon Re-Opening
The service finally opened fully upon the removal of Government precautions, and the group bubbles were discontinued. All but one member has now returned to the Centre in person, and it is hoped that that person will return soon. The members told the BuDS team how pleased they were to be able to meet up with all their friends again.
The service is now open 5 days a week in High Wycombe, and it is hoped that the Aylesbury centre will soon be able to open on more days as well. Although the scheduled three activities continue in the morning, the members are now given the opportunity to have some choice in what they do. The themes for the activities are physical, creative and life skills. Members are also encouraged to try new activities. As personal reviews for members have resumed upon the centres’ re-opening, they are often used to look at how goals can be met, and personal skills developed. All the members now meet up at lunchtime, something the members all welcomed. Day trips are now being planned for members again, despite the risk from Covid-19, and there is a plan to go to Brighton for a day in August.
Future Plans for Social Link
It is hoped that the Aylesbury centre will develop to have more members, and to open on more days – similar to how the High Wycombe centre has already expanded. The centre also wants to develop its working opportunities for members. The aim is to reach out to local cafes and shops, to see if there are any work-based opportunities for members. The staff felt that this was an important development, as employment is low among people with learning disabilities.
Conclusion
We were delighted to see some really positive outcomes coming out of such a challenging situation and felt it reflected the skill and dedication of the staff at the centre. The future developments also look very exciting for the expansion of the service.
Covid-19 Risk Assessment
BuDS assesses the risk of meeting someone infected with Covid-19 at any of the Social Link centres as critically high (July 2022). Additionally, people with a learning disability are assessed by NHS England as one of the groups most likely to be seriously ill or die if they catch Covid-19 (extremely clinically vulnerable). BuDS does not recommend that people with learning disabilities expose themselves to the risk of catching Covid-19, at a Social Link site or anywhere else. To read all of our advice and articles about Covid-19, please use the link below.
More Information
To read other articles from our Learning Disability team, click here: https://buds.org.uk/category/our-work/neurodiversity-and-learning-disability/
To find out more about Social Link, and the services they provide, click here: http://www.social-link.co.uk/
To read BuDS’ articles about Covid-19, and understand the risk it still poses, click here: https://buds.org.uk/category/our-work/iag-covid-19/
The visit was conducted by Ann and Mary, of the BuDS Learning Disability team, and this piece is adapted from Ann’s summary of the visit. Some images are taken from the Social Link Facebook page, while others were taken on the BuDS visit.