Teamwork Trust’s temporary Covid-19 remote support service is helping adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs feel less isolated at home.

We made unprecedented changes to our ‘Living & Learning’ programme during the first week of lockdown, and have continued to overcome many challenges to meet the individual needs of our most vulnerable members and families.

Teamwork Trust service-users have been supported during Covid-19 with regular phone and video calls, online learning and quizzes, doorstep deliveries of activity packs and food parcels, and access to a digital support hub as part of the tailored service. Mobile phones and tablets have also been donated to those who do not have devices, so that they can stay in touch with staff and loved ones, and access online learning.

Patricia Barratt’s daughter, Sally attends Teamwork’s Kettering centre. She said: “Sally has surprised us all by how well she’s coped with this situation, and Teamwork Trust has definitely been a big factor in that. Every week they promised to call and every week they have. They’ve also sent us activity packs which are based around the things that Sally enjoys or the skills she’s weak on, and that kind of individual care and continual communication is so important to us as parents. I couldn’t have asked for a more positive experience – the support is just superb.”

Victoria Bell, Head of Development at Teamwork Trust said:

“We had no idea when we responded to Covid-19 that our remote services would have such a positive impact."

“All our services were previously based in our three centres in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough – very much around face-to-face activities and learning. We had to rapidly change our whole model to run online and virtually and, most importantly, tailor it to each individual.

“There have been many challenges to overcome and a great deal of learning too as we continue to adapt, but knowing we have been able to help our members keep some sort of routine, stay active, access learning, connect with people through phone or video calls and generally manage through this difficult period has been the driving force.

“To receive such positive feedback from service-users and their families and carers about how we have helped them deal with lockdown is fantastic.”

Teamwork Trust has teamed up with other charity and not-for-profit organisations who have supported its new service with training, education classes and donations – these include Workers’ Educational Association (WEA), Good Things Foundation, Revolution Zero, Neighbourly, Aldi, Marks & Spencer, Teamwork volunteers and many more.