Age Friendly Island and its partners have created a set of ‘Out and About’ Cards to help people to feel more confident to navigate social distancing and other Covid-secure measures that are now in place.
With the lockdown restrictions easing, Emma Lincoln, Age UKIW’s Age Friendly Island project manager said that some people were finding the new situations challenging.
“In our high streets, shops, cafes, pubs and hairdressers and on the buses and ferries we are all navigating the new measures that the government has brought in as a response to Coronavirus.
We are social distancing, wearing face coverings, being served from behind a clear screen, and using contactless payments.
For some people these measures bring additional difficulties due to a medical condition or disability. For others the idea of returning to places that have changed can be daunting.”
Who the cards are for
The new cards, part-funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, are designed to be used to let people know that the cardholder finds these new situations challenging.
500 sets have been produced for the initial pilot that seeks to find out how useful people find them. If the feedback is positive, more sets will be produced.
These cards are for those who:
- Find social distancing challenging — they may have a visual impairment or have difficulty in understanding social distancing instructions;
- Are exempt from wearing a face covering under the government guidance;
Find the use of face coverings by other people challenging — face coverings make communication difficult for those who rely on lip reading and facial expressions;
- Feel they need time and space — they may have been shielding and are just starting to get back out and about.
Download the posters
Businesses are also being encouraged to use posters within their premises for people using the ‘Out and About’ cards and to support those using them to engage effectively with their services.
Posters can be downloaded from the Isle of Wight council Website.
If you or someone you know would benefit from using these cards, please contact Age UK Isle of Wight on (01983) 525282 or for more information, click here.
News shared by Elisha on behalf of Age UK Isle of Wight. Ed
