BARRATT Homes has donated a Facebook Portal to Ashlyn House in Harlow to give residents more options to stay connected with friends and family throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

The device, which is one of three Portals that have been donated to care homes across the South East, will be available for all residents to use to keep in contact with loved ones, which will help to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Matt Abbotson at Ashlyn House comments: “We are so thankful that our residents can now stay connected to their families in even more ways during this time. Everyone is extremely happy that they can now see and talk to their children, grandchildren and other loved ones. Our thanks go to Barratt Homes for its generous donation.”

Karly Williams, Sales Director at Barratt Homes North Thames, said: “As care home residents have been unable to receive visits from loved ones due to recent social distancing measures, residents are relying on technology to keep in contact with friends and family as they adapt to the new normal. We hope that our donation will help them feel more connected during these unprecedented times.”

As part of its UK response to support the fight against coronavirus, parent company Barratt Developments has also donated £100,000 to the NHS Charities Together appeal, which supports 250 NHS charities across the UK collectively. It has also donated personal protective items, including thousands of high quality FFP3 face masks, gloves and hand sanitiser, to local NHS hospitals and social care services.

Karly adds: “It is essential for companies like ours to donate this equipment to where it is urgently needed and support those who have been and will continue to be vulnerable during this pandemic. We are indebted to the NHS and other key workers, and so where we can assist with their efforts and help to save lives, both here in Essex and across the UK, we will continue to do everything we can.”