Client Newsletter Template - Kyra Morris

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C L I E N T N E W S L E T T E R J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 C L I E N T N E W S L E T T E R - D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 F R O M W I T H I N F O U R W A L L S T O T H E G R E A T O U T D O O R S From the Executive Officer's Desk Welcome to the December 2020 edition of our Client Newsletter. The year has come and gone at an amazing pace and we have all negotiated several trying events both physically and emotionally. Hopefully, the road ahead is clearer and our opportunities leading into the festive season and beyond are achievable. This newsletter will be a fair bit bigger than normal as I have several things I want to share with you, with many exciting updates. You will see we have some supporters of SWCT advertising in this newsletter, if you need the service they provide, please give them a call. They come with the full confidence and support of myself and the team here. (We use them for all our needs) . We will be closing our depot at 5pm on Wednesday the 23rd December 2020, and reopening at 8.30am on Monday the 4th January 2021. Even though we will be closed, you can still get transport over the Christmas/ New Year period if you need it. So long as you are only going within 20 kilometres of your home then please call us by 5pm on the 18/12/2020 to book your transport and we will put a booking in for you to travel by 13CABS. We will have a booking number for you so if anything goes wrong or you need to cancel, you can ring 13CABS and quote your booking number and speak directly with them. You can travel on any day (even Xmas day) if you want to and at any time of the day or night. Just remember the trip cannot be more than 20 kilometres from w L I K E U S O N here you live. F A C E B O O K : S O U T H W E S T C O M M U N I T Y T R A N S P O R T B O O K I N G S : 9 4 2 6 8 9 9 9 O R W W W . S W C T . C O M . A U COVID 19: South West Community Transport operated as an essential service all through the COVID crisis, delivering essential transport for medical and shopping purposes. Although operating under reduced ability and trying circumstances, we never stopped delivering and I would like to thank my team and all of you for your wonderful support and patience during this time. As a state we are going well and hopefully this will continue. SWCT has opened back up all its services and all our vehicles are able to travel at full capacity. The only requirement we still have in place is that you always use the sanitiser provided by the driver before you enter the vehicle. I am monitoring the situation daily and will let you know immediately if things change. The Federal Government has a COVID 19 support line operating from 8.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday except public holidays up until the 30 June 2021. The five top reasons people have been using this support line are for: 1. Wellbeing checks 2. Information about Covid 19 3. Advice to vulnerable people 4. Travel restrictions 5. Access to new or information about existing home care services. Feel free to call this number if you want advice on the above or other matters. PHONE: 1800171866 CLIENT CHRISTMAS PARTY: I was shattered when I had to make the decision to cancel our client Christmas party this year. But it could not go ahead as no one could take a booking for the approximately 350 people that attend. I am very hopeful that we might be able to make amends by having a huge Christmas in July celebration next year. Fingers crossed. SOCIALS We are pleased to be able to offer our clients many and varied social experiences. When perusing the SWCT calendar, the Opal Logo indicates a SMALL GROUP OUTING on public transport. These groups are usually around 8 people, and there will be walking involved. The destinations vary as will timings. Call the Bookings Office and put your name on the Expression of Interest list. This is not a guarantee that you will be on the outing (this time anyway). The outings are very popular and highly sought after. Each outing is tailored and may not be suitable for all clients. You will receive a phone call confirming your placement if successful. Keith is your Small Group Outing Co-Ordinator. The rest of the social outings will be using our own SWCT transport. The bookings process for these outings remain unchanged. Call the Bookings Office at least 2 business days prior and your place for the outing is guaranteed. Typical outings include Bunnings, Foodie Fridays, Scenic Drives and ticketed events such as shows. Sandi is your social outing Co-Ordinator. Bookings Staff will also be able to help you with your enquiries for both types of outings. WESTERN WONDERS: I am keen for this social to finally happen in March next year (check out the social calendar for the exact dates) This will be 7 nights away exploring the western parts of NSW with our wonderful staff. You will see many places you have probably never heard of. Find out what is out the back of Bourke, stand at the geographical centre of NSW and experience many country style meals and hospitality. There are still limited vacancies and so if you are interested please call Sandi in the Social department ASAP and put down your money. EXERCISE CLASSES (EMAA) EASY MOVES FOR ACTIVE AGEING: Have you heard about our exercise classes? Easy Moves for Active Ageing (EMAA) has been designed for Australian Seniors, with strength, flexibility, and balance in mind. Many of the exercises can be done in a seated position and can easily be replicated at home. All the moves are modified to suit YOUR ability level. We currently hold two classes, 9am & 11am on Mondays. Call bookings to reserve your place. They are like the shopping, once you have reserved your place, you will only need to call us if you are not coming. They are great fun and great value as the exercise class, morning tea and transport is all included for only $12. L I K E U S O N F A C E B O O K : S O U T H W E S T C O M M U N I T Y T R A N S P O R T B O O K I N G S : 9 4 2 6 8 9 9 9 O R W W W . S W C T . C O M . A U HERE IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY: Do you like gardening? Would you like to own a smartphone? Would you like to be able to keep in touch with your family and friends online? South West Community Transport and Planting Seeds are pleased to be able to offer a limited number of clients an Optus smartphone. The smartphones will be given to clients who wish to become more socially included by way of using their phones and gardening to reach out to other like- minded clients. By learning how to use the smartphone, you might like to take photos of your garden and then share them online on a gardening website. You might have a much-loved plant that is not thriving, you could ask fellow gardeners for advice. Staying connected socially is vitally important for well-being and mental health. The internet is a wonderful source of information, advice, entertainment and more. Training and support will be offered If you are interested in this generous offer, please contact the office ASAP and speak with Sharon. TRANSPORTING PETS: Recently many people have been asking if we will transport their pets. The simple answer is YES. With some provisos. If your animal is a registered service animal or therapy animal, then it is free to travel in the vehicle at your side. If your animal is a pet, then we will still take it providing you have it in an appropriate travel cage that we can lift and place in our vehicle and it is safe to do so. We will not transport aggressive animals that place our drivers at risk. If you do not have an appropriate travel cage, we can supply one. So, if your dog, cat or hamster needs to go to the vet, we CAN assist you. You will need to pay but your pet will travel for free. OFFICE HOURS Our office is open from 7.30am to 12.30pm and 1.00pm to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. Our customer service team is at lunch from 12.30 to 1.00pm each day. Only calls relating to transport on the day will be accepted L I K E U S O N during this time. F A C E B O O K : S O U T H W E S T C O M M U N I T Y T R A N S P O R T B O O K I N G S : 9 4 2 6 8 9 9 9 O R W W W . S W C T . C O M . A U ADVANCE PAYMENTS: A growing number of clients and family support members are wanting to make advance payments for their standard transport bookings. We are pleased to say we now do this. Instead of paying on the day e.g. $10.00 cash to the driver, you may now direct deposit into SWCT Account or Terminal Deposit over the phone with your credit card. This is only for your everyday trips e.g. medical appointments, shopping etc. NOTE: All Social payments are still required to be taken by Sandi (Social Project Officer). Question: How much can I deposit or pay? Answer: There is a minimum limit of $50.00. If you wish to pay more e.g. $100.00 this is also fine. SWCT then will keep track of your daily trips and notify you when your balance is at $20.00. Drivers will know before you get on the transport that you will not have to pay. Please ask for Bronwyn, our Bookings Team Leader, to either discuss any queries or to attain our SWCT account details. I hope this helps with your travel and appointment worries. L I K E U S O N F A C E B O O K : S O U T H W E S T C O M M U N I T Y T R A N S P O R T B O O K I N G S : 9 4 2 6 8 9 9 9 O R W W W . S W C T . C O M . A U KINDNESS: We are a fully inclusive organisation, and we welcome people from all nationalities, sexual preferences, political viewpoints and even West Tigers supporters. All I ask is that if the person sitting next to you on the bus is not necessarily your idea of an ideal person, please be nice to each other, say hello and you might be surprised and hopefully find that any preconceived preconceived perceptions you have of them might be wrong and you find a friend, if not at least you have remained pleasant and both of you had a good trip. SANTA: I know clients are concerned our government will not let Santa into the country. So I contacted Santa and he has sent me a letter which I have put below to let you all know what is happening. From myself and my team at South West Community Transport, please have a wonderful and safe Christmas and new Year and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2021 for bigger and better things. Keep safe - Darrin Wilson, Executive Officer Joke of the day: "Did you hear the rumour L I K E U S O N about butter? Well, I'm not going to spread it!" F A C E B O O K : S O U T H W E S T C O M M U N I T Y T R A N S P O R T B O O K I N G S : 9 4 2 6 8 9 9 9 O R W W W . S W C T . C O M . A U