We hope our readers are all safe and well despite the challenges times we are living through. We wanted to share a bit of good news with all of our members, friends and supporters...
Gateway's premises is open to members!
Following a government announcement last week, the disability services, adult education and mental health services were all been named essential activities to continue to operate throughout level 5 restrictions. Gateway can also continue to provide ways for people to connect with one another in person through the project both indoors and outdoors. This means we can continue to meet up in small groups in keeping with best practice to maximise health and safety and reduce risk for people coming along for vital social support in the community - woohoo!
For more detail on how we are doing this and what to expect from Gateway as a member coming to the project, please email us on info@gatewaymha.com and we can send you Gateway's Coronavirus Policy and Risk Assessment and arrange to give you a call for a chat about the changes in place.
More good news...! With winter and worsening weather on the way, we have just completed the works to create our garden terrace outside and very much looking forward to decorating the space together in small groups over the next while. If anyone would be interested in a bit of gardening or to join a mural painting project, please let us know. Big thanks and shout out to Mental Health Ireland on funding this important development which means we have some much needed extra (and gorgeous) safe space for people to come together and connect.
Gateway’s weekly group meet ups will continue in addition to online activity like zooms and video projects on the blog! If you have more ideas and suggestions for other activities and programmes in Gateway and for people staying at home right now, please email us on info@gatewaymha.com or text the project mobile and we will call you back for a chat. We can't promise to be able to do everything but we can talk things through with other members and see where we go from there. The monthly members meeting is on the second Tuesday of every month now and will be taking place in person in the back room (just 5 people can attend in person) with more joining on Zoom and by dial in (over the phone) that would like to.
Gateway’s art group, ukulele groups, music group, creative writing/poetry group, meditation, walking and fishing groups and social and peer support meet ups will all take place (minus drinks/food for now) in the project or outdoors depending on the group– just check the schedule to see what is going on, when and where.
Our safety precautions mean that small groups will be
limited to just four people and a member of the team per meet up (at the moment) and people need to book in advance by phone/text/email please... we are sorry about having to introduce these changes and know it makes the Gateway experience a bit different but we are doing our very best to make them work for us and the project's values and to help keep people as safe as
possible.
To keep everyone safe and have a good time together, what do we ask of people coming to Gateway during these times?
- We
ask anyone wanting to join an activity to first ring or text to book a
place. We will have a quick chat with you to make sure everyone is safe
and well and informed about the changes before coming along in person.
Please understand this is a group effort and it means all of us working
together to do our part to get it right.
- When
people arrive at Gateway, we ask to check your temperature – a current
member of the team will do this wearing a face mask and using a
non-contact thermometer – the result will be recorded with your name in
our contact tracing book. If your temperature is 38 degrees or above
you will be asked to leave and follow public health advice.
- We
also do a quick check in verbally in person or on the phone beforehand to
make sure Gateway is safe for everyone – we ask anyone who has potential
symptoms (or has had them in the past two weeks) to leave, go straight
home and contact their GP for advice. The main symptoms of coronavirus
include a high temperature (38 and above), those of a flu or cold
(respiratory illness), having a cough, breathing difficulties or shortness
of breath and/or changes to your sense of smell or taste. If anyone has
tested positive for coronavirus, or is a suspected case or has been in
close contact with a confirmed case (or has travelled), we will ask that
person to avoid Gateway for now until it is safe to do so and follow
public health advice.
- When
people arrive, we need everyone to use hand sanitiser and wear a face mask
which will be provided and agree to keep a two meter (6 foot) distance
from other people while coming along to activities.
- For
the time being we will not be providing drinks and ask people not to eat
or drink when attending. We also ask people not to smoke outside of
Gateway and recommend people do this before or after coming along.
These are big changes we know and hope they are not for long but for now,
we hope that people understand it is to help keep us all safe because
while eating, drinking or smoking a person cannot wear a face mask which
helps to stop the spread of illnesses like coronavirus.
We ask for everyone’s support and patience with the changes in place to help keep everyone as safe and well as possible – doing these things will
help to protect all of us and the local community which will mean we can continue to meet up together as
a community project. If anyone would like to know more about Gateway’s
health and safety procedures and approach during these times, please let us
know and one of the team can arrange to phone you for a chat.
Wishing everyone a happy n healthy Halloween - check out some of the online events if interested here: Dublin Online Halloween 2020/
Best wishes, solidarity and health to all.
Fionn & the Gateway team
Remember it is important to try to switch off and take breaks from the news during these times as best we can and to make sure to reach out to others and get support from friends, colleagues and peers whichever way you can. If you need support at any time of the day or night, the Samaritans are a free 24 hour service just call 116 123.
For the latest up to date information and links to resources, supports and guidance via the HSE website here: https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
