Coronavirus Update

The latest government advice regarding lockdown regulations has meant that we have had to close our service to face to face appointments once again. The government has said the new rules will be in place until 3rd December.

Once the restrictions are lifted we will re-open as soon as possible.

We are still available for telephone and email enquiries.

Update

The Ark is open for face to face appointments. We are also still able to offer advice by email and telephone. The job club is running on Fridays between 1pm and 3pm but all the other activity groups are currently closed.

Our opening hours are 10am-3pm – Monday to Friday.

Please call 0115 8599556 or email theark@thearkgedling.org.uk to book an appointment.

Services during Covid-19

All face to face appointments are suspended as is our drop in café.

However, we are able to run a number of replacement services. You can contact the welfare rights worker on the following telephone numbers – 0115 8599556 and 07735060345. The mobile number (07735060345) can be used for text and WhatsApp advice conversations as well as telephone calls.

Practical and emotional support is also available through accessing those numbers. We can arrange for regular contact from one of our volunteers to help individuals through a difficult time.

We are also running an email service and we are contactable at theark@thearkgedling.org.uk

We are maintaining a service which we believe can still assist people in difficulty and hardship.

Please feel free to contact using the above details.

Important Information – Corona Virus (Covid-19)

Dear Friends

In light of advice given by the government on Monday 16th March 2020 the Ark is taking steps to limit the spread of the virus and to contribute to the well-being of our staff, volunteers and our friends who use our service.

It is with sadness that we now must suspend all of our activity groups (Friendship club, Craft club and Job club). We will also be closing the café area to the public and no longer running a drop-in meeting place. We appreciate that for several people our café is a source of community and in difficult times community is more important than ever. We will be attempting to find ways of remaining in contact with our patrons to ensure that they are not cut adrift from all support.

We will be honouring existing appointments with our welfare rights worker; however, wherever possible these appointments will be made by telephone rather than face to face. When unavoidable and a face to face appointment is essential if it is already booked, we will keep that appointment.

We are expecting to be able to run a telephone and email advice service but due to existing commitments this service will not be available until Tuesday 21st April. We will endeavour to keep this service available for as long as the situation requires it.

Our AGM was due for Friday 3rd April 2020. This is now postponed indefinitely but our annual report will be printed and made available for interested parties.

Even in turbulent times there are opportunities for us to support, encourage and sustain each other and we will seek to find and make the most of those opportunities.

We pray for good health for all us and hope to return to normality as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

J Tattersfield

John Tattersfield
Chair of Trustees.

The Ark at Christmas

Our last day before Christmas is

Friday 20th December

We will then be re-open on

to Thursday January 2nd

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and wish you all a peaceful and joyful Christmas and New Year

Closure for building work

The Ark will be closed
from
Monday 3rd December 2019 until
Tuesday 10
th December 2019.

This is due to building work being completed.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.