Throughout the pandemic, Seashell has continued to support our community members by providing provision through our Seashell Active programme and Seashell community services during a time where we all went through a lot of change and having to isolate or shield.
We stayed in touch with our community during the frightening first months of lockdown being a voice on the phone or through online fitness classes, one to one sessions, coffee mornings and CADS sports events during school holidays when we were able. We even managed to help our oldest member celebrate their 97th birthday with the delivery of an exercise equipment bag to help them be active in the home.
We know Seashell Active’s provision is vital, it helps to rebuild connections, community, reduces isolation and loneliness and supports people’s health and social care needs.
As the nation starts to emerge from lockdown, for many SEND families building routine and activity back into their lives will take time and require our support. Over the coming months Seashell Active will focus on creating that bespoke approach to help people find their way back to happy, healthy lives.
Our team will make sure all the necessary safety measures are in place to ensure people can access our services safely. We understand that for families with a disabled child or young person a flexible, personal approach really matters.
Here are comments from just some of our community:
“Lockdown has been pretty isolating and at times overwhelming attempting to keep both boys happy and entertained. It’s a constant battle, especially with my son to try and engage him in things away from a screen and to try to get him to do more physical activity.”
“Our LUSU bag arrived today. Thank you so much. I feel totally overwhelmed to receive such an amazing kit for the boys.”
“CADS has really gone above and beyond in reaching out and thinking of ways to engage with children at home, we have felt so included rather than most other things that my child just won’t engage with.”
“T loved his fitness sessions and we look forward to continuing with them. They were brilliant. We love the Seashell gym, and the team have worked really effectively and have really helped him. He is looking forward to getting back when it reopens.”
“The course for me was really good, and it has helped my mobility I think. Because when we go out for walks with the dogs I feel steadier.”
Seashell places inclusive wellbeing, sport and recreation at the heart of our work and we are working to become a national centre of excellence for inclusive sports and activity, for student and community use.
As society recovers from COVID-19, Seashell will help local communities to manage and recover from the impact of COVID-19, we aim to improve the health and wellbeing of our community and improve community integration by ensuring there is an inclusive response to reopening our services, with our focus and specialism of supporting and engaging disabled people.
We would like to thank our partners, stakeholders and funders for the at home inclusive kit and equipment bags (Lloyds Banking Group, Vernon Building Society and the National Lottery Emerging Futures Fund) for supporting Seashell, if you would like to hear more about what we do, support our work or become a volunteer, please do get in touch.
