Jay: coping with Covid isolation

Jay attends Minstead Trust’s day opportunities centre in Portsmouth.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, Jay has found it very difficult being unable to attend his job and missed many of his community activities like coffee with his Dad. Here he tells us his story.

‘I have worked at the John Pounds Centre in Portsmouth for 15 years, helping out, doing the bins and litter picking. I couldn’t do it during the lockdowns and it made me feel very isolated from friends and family. I am still not able to do it. I really miss meeting new people there as well as the staff, who are great to work with.

‘I didn’t like being stuck at home in the lockdowns, it was so bad.

‘Now things are a bit better I like going for a coffee at Costa. Having a coffee with my dad is great to chill out and spend time with him as he has done a lot for me.

‘If I had more support I’d like to go out and watch the football on the TV, I’m a Newcastle supporter, they have lots of money now!’

If you would like to help people like Jay to rebuild their confidence to get out of the house and into their community with friends please donate to the Big Give campaign from 30 November to 7 December 2021. Your donation is instantly doubled during this window – meaning you can have double the impact for people with learning disabilities.