St Chads Charitable Trust keeping close connections with clients

St Chads Charitable Trust connecting through a Zoom session. Photo / Supplied

St Chads Charitable Trust says its buildings may be closed, but its community is thriving.

General manager Nicky Mayne says difficult times can bring out the best in humanity.

"The team at St Chads has faced the challenges of our new restrictions to provide vital connection, learning and support to clients and to their whānau/caregivers."

She says the government considers health and disability services an essential service, requiring St Chads to continue to provide a duty of care to clients under a Level 4 Alert, albeit in a non-contact way where possible.

"All of us find adjusting to new technology difficult, but people with learning disabilities experience additional challenges.

She says with the support of staff and whānau, all their clients who wanted to participate in online sessions were be able to staring this week, with the test sessions proving successful.

Nicky says they have had a huge uptake this week from their clients onto the Zoom platform.

"The clients have found it really enjoyable and a way they can still be connected, even though they are in physical isolation."

She says the first couple of sessions this week have been amazing and has gone way better than they expected.

"We are finding the connection is great for the families of our clients too.

"Many people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to infection due to underlying health conditions or living situations.

"They are therefore likely to be isolated far longer than the general population.

"In these times, St Chads is a 'lifeline' ensuring they and those who care for them are staying well, and they have all the support and information they need.

"To work on that connection is so vital for their wellbeing.

Nicky says the online sessions are also a way for them to share about their concerns as well as have a bit of fun with each other, enabling them to occupy their days positively.

"In these times of physical isolation, social isolation is not a problem in this community."