FSS looks for enterprising ways to keep people independent. During lockdown many sensory impaired people have become lonely and isolated. We have the technology and an amazing team of volunteers to ensure that if a second wave hits these people will be in a better place to cope with that. We have electronic magnifiers which will magnify X30 and enable reading of letters (this time they have had to stockpile until someone is allowed to read it for them) For many isolation has happened because friends and family have not been allowed to visit. We have the technology with talking computers and Alexa to reduce this impact. We just need to get in there help them catch up with their correspondence and teach them how to skype or zoom so that they can stay in touch with their loved ones. We need to strike whilst there is a desire among older people to get connected. We have a team of volunteers ready to go as soon as we are able. What this fundraising will do is enable us to buy enough equipment to be able to get to everyone fast using several volunteers at a time.
One of our ladies (46) has poor sight and other disabilities which affect her mobility. We managed to secure her a grant to buy a talking computer. This has enabled her to connect with friends during lockdown. Given her the independence to do online supermarket shopping. She has connected it up to her TV and can now change channels without using her voice and not her painful fingers. She is able to dictate emails and she said to me the other day " This has changed my quality of life"