Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough re-open day centres across the county

The centres were forced to close at the height of the pandemic but are now able to open for the first time in many months, in a move which will delight users across Peterborough and across the county.

The hugely popular Age UK day centres, which saw almost 6,000 attendances by local users in 2019, aim to improve the quality of life for older people by helping them to be independent and be with other people.

The centres provide older people with both practical assistance and a chance to socialise, with support from trained staff and volunteers.

Users enjoy a wide variety of activities which include music, quizzes, exercise, arts and crafts and a hot lunch and refreshments are provided throughout the day.

As of Thursday (April 14) the day centres and locations that has reopened include:

Lyons Court(temporarily held at March Cricket Club) on Mondays

Tuesday Club, March on Tuesdays

Oasis, Wisbech on Wednesdays and Fridays

Ambury Road, Huntingdon on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Service users in Orton will continue to receive AUKCAP’s transitional service at present which means a weekly phone call and from 12th April a garden visit if appropriate.

Also, from 12 April, Sharing Time, will begin to resume with garden visits, where appropriate. AUKCAP also supports 15 Friendship Clubs, which are run by volunteers, and is supporting the clubs in their efforts to reopen, but this may not be until June.

The day centres will have Covid-safe measures in place including user temperature checks on arrival, staff wearing PPE where required, enhanced cleaning and no activities involving shared objects, so activities are now more focussed on group discussions, such as quizzes, bingo etc.

Even though day service staff and volunteers have all received at least their first dose of the vaccine, all will still need to maintain a safe social distance of 2m at all day clubs.

As a result, AUKCAP will continue to limit the number of people who can attend the day club on each day – roughly to about half of normal numbers pre-Covid. In addition to the Covid-19 safety measures which AUKCAP had already put in place, staff and volunteers will be required to carry out a weekly PCR test.

Melanie Wicklen, Chief Executive, Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough said: “We are so delighted that we can finally begin to re-open our day centres as these provide such a vital level of support and service to so many people in the region.

“For over a year now, many users have been left feeling more isolated as a result of the pandemic and while we have worked hard to adapt our services to try to alleviate this as best we can, nothing can replace the value of face to face contact with friends and peers. We will ensure that our day centres operate following official Covid guidance to create safe spaces for our users.”

Older people can be referred to a day centre by a relative, their GP, social care, or can self-refer. Those who are interested in attending the centre can arrange a taster day. Contact AUKCAP to chat further or make your application. Tel 0300 666 9860 or email [email protected].