Update 23 Feb

Further to the statement on the easing of lockdown from the Government yesterday, Age UK Somerset is leaning on the side of optimism that the proposed steps will happen on the dates planned.   

We are now excitedly preparing to have all of our services “back to normal” as we get to Step 4 in the recovery roadmap, currently planned as 21^st June.

This means that our group, in-person Ageing Well exercise and strength and balance sessions, of which we had over 100 across the county before lockdown, will resume.

Our office will be open to visitors again as soon as this is possible according to the roadmap.

We will be able to begin recruiting Volunteers for all of our services again.  Our existing Volunteers who provide home visits for Befriending or to offer help with benefit claim forms will resume these visits only when it is deemed safe, and they feel confident to do so.   

Watch this space for more updates as we see how things pan out.

Although we can’t wait, June is a long way off and during the remaining 4 months we will continue to offer our services by telephone, email and online.  These include our Information and Advice and benefits support services, our Friendly Phone Calls service, our Cognitive Stimulation Therapy sessions and our popular online Ageing Well relaxation and exercise sessions.  Our Toenail cutting service has been continuing throughout with strict hygiene, full PPE and frequent staff testing and now the  Toenail Cutting Assistants have had their vaccinations.  

Because of the success and popularity of our online and telephone based services, we may carry on offering these, in addition to face-to-face options, even after things are “back to normal”.