A SERVICE supporting disabled adults in Herefordshire has buried a lockdown memory capsule, filled with souvenirs of the activities they and their service users have been up to during the coronavirus pandemic.

Throughout the Covid-19 outbreak, First Key Hereford have been engaging in innovative and fun ideas to keep service users busy, but also to help them to look forward to the future.

The lockdown memory capsule has been filled with memories from VE Day, salt dough handprints and lots of other items to remind the staff and service users of the fun they had in the future.

Service users have also made a ‘wish box’ filled with all the things they would like to do when lockdown restrictions are eased, with seeing family, meeting friends for lunch and having a very huge whippy ice cream from Locks garage all ranking highly on the list.

Iris Williams, John Davis and Lorriane Jones are the service users who put together and buried the memory capsule.

Iris said: “I wanted to be reminded of my 71st birthday in lockdown, as we had a Victorian style tea party. John made my birthday cake, so I wanted to put my candles from my cake in it.

“I also find it funny with staff walking round with masks on as they sound different and look funny, so I wanted to put a mask in there to be reminded of what they looked like!”

John said: “I wasn’t sure what a time capsule was to begin with, but my support worker explained it and I got really excited about what we could put in it, as we have done a lot during lock down and I like digging.

“I wanted to be reminded of our Easter tree competition as we won, so when this lock down is over, we are going on a trip to the seaside! I put in some of the decorations we made for the tree and I also put in a tv magazine with the date and year on.”

Lorraine said: “I played 52 card pick up with a support worker who had never played it before, I laughed so much watching her pick them all up, so I put the Joker cards in out of the pack of cards.”

Gemma Ingram, team leader at First Key Hereford, said: “Lockdown has been hard on us all, but particularly for those living with learning difficulties. We wanted to do something which helps us to remember the positive times that we’ve had during this not so positive situation.

“The service users are really looking forward to opening up the memory capsule in years to come to remember the great times we have had.

“The wish box has been a hit too. It’s really important for us all to stay optimistic and look forward to the future, whatever that may hold. It will be lovely to fulfil the service users wishes and make even more wonderful memories together.”