RotherFed, the Neighbourhoods team and Councillors have been working with residents at the Elizabeth Parkin Neighbourhood Centre to increase activities & centre usage, following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Recently, Neighbourhood Coordinator, Nicola, has been working with Zoe from RotherFed, to support local residents and increase the usage of their Neighbourhood Centre. RotherFed are leading on a project to increase activities, following the pandemic and the impact that has had on social activity, with a focus on Council tenants and Neighbourhood Centres.
Following on from several coffee mornings, where residents came together to discuss what they’d like to see in their centres and what they’d like to get involved in, a plan of activities was drawn up. Zoe then worked hard to find partner organisations who could provide a range of activities, including chair aerobics, crafts and health checks.
Nicola, along with Council colleagues from Housing services, have spoken to residents about how their experience at centre could be improved, including sourcing funding for internal improvements and making the centre more accessible and appealing from the outside.
Last week, residents, along with Zoe & Nicola, took part in their first chair aerobics and mindfulness session with Abbey from Pivotal Fitness. It was a fantastic, accessible session, everyone was smiling, laughing and signing away to some timeless classics, and almost everyone was drumming in time too! The session was focussed on drumming along to well-known songs, whilst gently exercising the upper body, as participants were encouraged to join in at their own pace. Following a quick brew, the group reconvened to look at how mindfulness could be incorporated into everyday life, listening, feeling and focussing on ‘the now’. Everyone took away some useful tips, to help them relax and feel calmer.
Councillors Mills and Reynolds have been along to several sessions, taking part in the coffee morning discussions, health checks and funding the group for some much-needed bingo equipment and the mindfulness sessions, facilitated by Pivotal Fitness. The health checks are in conjunction with the NHS and residents were able to check their blood pressure, weight and have a discussion about any concerns with a community practitioner; they look forward to being able to access this service on a regular basis.
Residents have also taken part in a craft session, creating mosaic masterpieces for their homes. Even the not so crafty crafters got involved and really enjoyed their artwork coming together. Rotherfed have provided residents with useful information too, including money saving tips and next week improving digital skills.
It’s been a pleasure to meet such a welcoming and vibrant group. The aim of the project is to help residents sustain their own involvement and activity, to find new things to enjoy and to keep those going. For now though, we’ll all be back drumming again this week!