Update from Chief Executive - Susan Hoath

Hello again, 

The past few months have been extremely difficult for Vista and for the people we support and although we have all been affected in different ways I’m proud of the way we’ve been able to keep core services going and make sure anyone who needed help could always get in touch. We’ve worked with local community services and organisations to sign-post those who were most vulnerable, and we’ve kept in touch with those who needed us most. 

The additional ‘local lockdown’ for Leicester has slowed down our plans to re-open services, but we are slowly lifting restrictions, carefully testing these with national and local guidance to try and keep everyone safe. 

Our homes are still working with restrictions for visitors, but we are eager to get face to face visits back in place as soon as we can. The video and telephone ‘virtual visits’ have helped people keep in touch with their loved ones, but this isn’t the same as being together. 

Four of the shops (Rothley, Shepshed, Wigston and Syston) are now open Thursday – Saturday and we can take some donations (clothing only); if you’ve got items to donate please contact the shop first to arrange this so we can process and store these safely. 

Our community services, including Low Vision, Rehabilitation and DeafBlind support, are now seeing some people face to face, with measures in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus, in all areas except the specific communities that are in continued local lockdown where we will continue to follow specific local guidance on restrictions on visiting people’s homes. The ECLO team can’t yet go back into hospital settings, but we are taking referrals and will get in touch with people who need this support. Unfortunately the months of Covid-19 have created a waiting list for many of our services and whilst we will try to get to everyone as soon as we can we are having to prioritise people who are most at risk. 

It will be some time yet before we can get our social and group activities back up and running, although we are trying lots of different ways to bring people together and keep them in touch with each other using telephones and digital technology. 

Please continue to stay safe and look after yourself and those close to you. If you have any symptoms of Covid-19, please follow the government's guidelines: stay home and request a test.  If you need information, support or just someone to talk to please do get in touch with Vista: 0116 249 8839.

Take care, 

Susan