Colchester United Football in the Community, (FITC), will continue their Community Outreach Support Scheme, and hope to add even more services.
The U's charity arm are due to be resuming activities at Shrub End from July 1st 2020, but over the last three months have been working hard to respond to the impact on the community through the Coronavirus pandemic.
As we go into the summer and beyond, FITC will continue to support the community and thanks for a grant from The National Lottery, are in advanced discussions to introduce new services to engage with different groups that may have felt the adverse effects of Coronavirus.
Sensory Support Activities
The FITC and ECL Sensory Service, (Essex Cares Limited), are piloting an innovative programme to support people in Essex with sensory impairments with exercise and social sessions, whilst isolated through current restrictions.
Social isolation has been highlighted by various groups as part of the COVID-19 impact and FITC staff alongside ECL Sensory staff will provide participants with low level exercise to improve activity levels as well as social engagement in a bid to reduce loneliness and develop positive friendships and relationships to take forwards.
Faye Gatenby from ECL Sensory Service said: "We are delighted to be working alongside Colchester United Football in the Community on this pilot project which will help to address some of the needs we have identified over the past three months."
"People with sight and /or hearing loss are facing new barriers to accessing services as a result of Covid-19 and this includes the opportunities to get up and moving and socialising.
We have co-produced the design of the sessions with our volunteers and we are all excited to see what we can achieve working together."
FITC & Age Concern Befriending Service
FITC staff have teamed up with Age Concern Colchester to support their befriending service to those in the community who may be socially isolated due to Coronavirus and the government restrictions around shielding for older people.
Staff will be checking in with matched members of the Colchester community for a weekly phone call to discuss their interests, hobbies and provide support if needed in relation to the situation they currently find themselves in.
Jane Diplock from Age Concern Colchester said: "We are really pleased that FITC staff have volunteered to befriend some of our North East Essex residents."
"We are very keen to match people with volunteers with similar interests and look for volunteers from all different walks of life.
"It is especially important at this difficult time to make sure people living in later years feel they are connected to the outside world.
"Being befriended has been a lifeline for lots of people and we are overwhelmed by the support we have had from North East Essex residents.
"We are looking for more volunteers as we have over 350 people either being befriended or looking for a befriender.
"If you think this would be something you would like to do please go to our website for more information."
To access the Age Concern Colchester website, click HERE.