With regret we have taken the decision this week to extend the closure of our three centres into the New Year.

With increasing coronavirus infection rates across the country and the changeable tier restrictions in place, we feel that this is the only sensible course of action to ensure the safety of our beneficiaries and employees at this time.

As has always been the case, however, we will keep the situation under constant review and update you all as soon as we are in a position to once again offer residential support.

In the meantime, however, as has been the case throughout 2020, we continue to support thousands of beneficiaries across the UK through digital and telephone-based interventions, as Chief Executive, Dr Jill Tolfrey explains:

“This is certainly not a decision we have taken lightly, we want to support as many beneficiaries as we can, through all our available means, including our residential centres. However, we have to ensure that we do so in a safe way, so keeping our centres closed is the only sensible and reasonable course of action at this time.

“But if you do have a physical, mental or social health need, we will continue to support as many people as we can online, via the telephone and through our Welfare Services team in early 2021. So please bear our Christmas opening hours in mind and get in touch in the new year to find out how we may be able to help you.”

Our Support Line will close at 5pm on Wednesday 23 December and will reopen at 9am on Monday 4 January 2021.

During this time, if you would like to make an enquiry regarding our recuperation, physical health or non-emergency mental health support, you can either complete an enquiry online and we will get back to you in January, or you can wait until we re-open to call our Support Line on 0800 389 8820.

Our Welfare Caseworkers will be available on certain days for support with any urgent social or welfare issues. Should you need to speak to them, you can do so between 9am and 11.30am on Thursday 24 December, and then between 10am and 3pm on Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 or Thursday 31 December. Enquiries made outside of this time will be responded to once we reopen in January.

Find more about seeking support over the festive season.