Hello Everyone! As I write the rain is pouring down, the leaves are changing to their glorious autumnal colours, there are 78 days until Christmas Day and I’m wondering where the year has gone. I bet many of you are feeling the same! The pandemic has been immensely challenging on so many levels, yet despite this we have seen incredible spirit, tenacity, passion and commitment to do the very best for the people we support across our centres and beyond. I have been humbled by the compassion and selflessness exhibited by professionals who against the odds have been determined to provide the very best support and services they can. It has been so hard, I have empathised, laughed and agonised with colleagues across our centres as we have made this Covid-19 journey together. Technology has been unleashed in many organisations in a way that many thought was impossible, and thank goodness it has. Never a truer saying than “Where there’s a will there’s a way” and as we have navigated the route, the significance of digital engagement and organisational agility has been evident in maintaining a can-do approach. It is really worth taking some time out to reflect on what you have achieved with technology, typically in the absence of a plan due to the extreme circumstances, and to build those next steps into a coherent plan or strategy. The TechAbility standards may help you to do that – https://www.techability.org.uk/techability-standards/ We know that as local lockdowns occur, a blended approach is going to be required for the foreseeable future and it is important that we are as well prepared for that as possible.
Support and resources
There are many ways that the Karten Network and others can help you so please don’t be shy, reach out to us and we’ll be delighted to help. You will hear from TechAbility later in the Newsletter, our Karten Centres are eligible to access bespoke support from TechAbility so why not contact the team and find out more. During the early stages of lockdown we developed a home learning/support resource on our website which is worth a look – https://karten-network.org.uk/home-learning-support/ Around the same time Natspec developed a website to support home learning – https://natspec.org.uk/resources/home-learning/ and TechAbility has a section to support remote learning https://www.techability.org.uk/resources/aiding-learning-from-home/ For Karten Centres that are not educational providers, don’t be put off by the use of the term “learning”, many of the resources transfer perfectly into independent living, day care and residential care contexts, there really is something for everyone.
Karten Centre information
Over the next few weeks I would like to ask you all to ensure your information is up-to-date on our website, Martin has provided a useful article to help you to do that. If you need any further assistance don’t hesitate to ask. I will also be getting in touch with the main Karten Centre contacts to schedule brief catch-up calls, which I hope will be supportive in the absence of my visits.
Funding and applications
Unfortunately, the pandemic has had an impact on the amount of funding that can be allocated to Centres. Trustees generously supported seven of our Karten Centres in September, enabling them to buy much needed additional technology to benefit the people they support. However, not all applications were affordable and the remainder have been deferred to the Trustees next meeting which takes place in March 2021. No further applications will be accepted for the March 2021 meeting. I realise this will be a disappointment to some of you, but we need to manage expectations to the best of our ability. I will keep you informed about future funding opportunities. In the meantime, I urge you to remain closely involved with the Network as there are many more benefits of engagement in addition to direct financial support.
Karten Cuppa
Through the spring and summer months we had a weekly Karten Cuppa Zoom call. We had a regular core of attenders, with other people dropping in when they could. As people are getting back to normal, I don’t think there’s a need for weekly calls, but it would be good to hear your thoughts about a monthly catch-up. Maybe we could theme it and we could have a contribution from a Karten Centre like Show and Tell! I would welcome any ideas you have.
Ian Karten’s Centenary Year
2020 is Ian Karten’s Centenary Year. Ian was a remarkable man and due to his amazing vision and huge generosity we are able to continue to support organisations like yours. We were planning on celebrating Ian’s legacy in this centenary year, but our plans have been thwarted by the pandemic. We are not able to go ahead with the celebratory event we had planned, but we will be releasing a Centenary Video to mark Ian’s 100th year. Thank you to everyone who has already participated in filming for this production. I will also be contacting my main contacts to ask for quotes, memories, things to celebrate etc. so that we can capture some of those and present them on our website.
That’s all for me. I hope you stay safe and well and look forward to being in touch with you soon.
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