Day centres in Bedford to reopen after Covid lockdown

Kempston Centre and Gadsby Street Day Centres, for people with a learning disability, are due to reopen Monday (October 5) following the Covid lockdown.

Goldington Day Centre - for older people - will also open two weeks later on Monday, October 19.

Each centre has carried out full risk assessments to ensure they take all of the necessary steps to maintain a safe environment for service users and staff.

The first phase is the return of service users to Kempston Centre and Gadsby Street Day Centres who are living at home with family carers with no formal support in place.

Goldington Day Centre will initially be giving priority to older people living at home who are at extreme risk of social isolation or require enhanced support due to their individual needs. The centres will be staggering start times and days and ‘bubbles’ of support where possible.

Cllr Wendy Rider, portfolio holder for adult services, said: “I’m really pleased to see our day centres reopening. They make such a difference to the people and their families who use them. I thank all staff, who have been working throughout lockdown to keep in touch and support families in extremely difficult circumstances for all.”

Centre managers will contact service users and their families to discuss arrangements and share plans.