Manchester Carers Forum work in partnership with @carersstepout who we run carers walks with.
Here is the latest update from them.
This is an update from Stepping Out to say we hope you are feeling well and, crikey, how are we going to go for our healthy, happy, sociable walks together when so many people are advised not to attend gatherings nor even leave the house? Especially people who care for someone in the family or a friend, who necessarily will have some kind of health issue. The answer is we’re probably not — at least in short term and in our usual form.
So we are innovating with a new arrangement as of now: STEPPING OUT / STAYING IN.
After taking advice from many of you, we have resolved to stay connected and continue to enjoy nature, activity and each others’ company in a different way. We will provide the communications hub and share your suggestions, including:
•a talking service, involving carers, people cared for, our walk volunteers and and staff via telephone, email, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter. We appreciate that not all carers have computers so the telephone is a very important means of communication at this difficult time.
•photograph & story-sharing,
•information-exchange,
•healthy recipe swap (we’ll smuggle in some cakes too)
•activity/exercise suggestions,
•WhatsApp groups,
•online book club,
•shared interest groups,
•virtual walks, (by film, photo and description)
•brilliant tips on how to pass the time when you are ‘self-isolating’,
•Bernard updates (our mascot dog) – other pet celebrities very much welcome,
•Film and television reviews…
This is very much guided by you. If there are any other activities you would like to suggest we’d love to hear from you. We can do different things in different parts of the country to suit your own specific creative ideas.
We appreciate that those self-isolating are going to struggle to go out for long walks – so this is initiative is designed hopefully to bring those walks and the fun that goes with them to you. They official advice from The Ramblers is that group walks are now suspended until at least the end of May, emphasis on “group”. Official government advice is that even people who are self-isolating may go out for walks alone – for all their mental and physical benefits – as long as they keep away from other people.
We want to remain your (virtual) walking buddies during this uncertain time while, like you, seeking out guidance from the health and government authorities as to the running of our day-to-day lives.
Do get in touch if you would like to be involved Stepping Out Staying In.
Email : hallosteppingout@gmail.com
Facebook: carerssteppingoutuk
Twitter @carersstepout
or ring the numbers at the end of this email.
Let us know if you would like to receive a weekly email/newsletter with stories, useful links, photos etc too.
We will not be sharing your details with anyone beyond our immediate group. If you volunteer to speak to a fellow carer or someone cared for from time to time you can be sure that we know them personally. As we know from our walks, a friendly word from someone who understands can be a lifeline.
We very much look forward to seeing you again as soon as the isolation/quarantine rules are lifted.