January Virtual Café
Our next Virtual Café is on Thursday January 28th, at 10:00 a.m, on video-calling platform Zoom.
The Café will be an informal, relaxed social chat for anyone over 50 who's been feeling a little bit lonely recently, or just wants to have a chat!
To book your place, please email sabita.burke@ageukberkshire.org.uk.
In your email, you can also request an info sheet explaining how to use Zoom.
Feel free to book places and set up the meeting on behalf of your older friends, relatives or clients if they would find it difficult to do this themselves.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
Exercise classes with Get Berkshire Active
Get Berkshire Active have some free exercise sessions on Zoom specifically for older, frail, less mobile adults, starting the week of January 18th, 2021:
Monday 10am Chair Yoga
Tuesday 11am Gentle Chair Exercise
Friday 11.15am Gentle Chair Exercise
This programme of sessions will grow over coming weeks. All sessions are led by qualified instructors and are a gentle introduction with a warm up, cool down and time for virtual socialising at the end.
To book, email kirsty.heath@getberkshireactive.org.
Getting on Zoom can be a hurdle in itself, so colleagues from Mindset Massage have kindly put together an instruction sheet to help. Let Kirsty know in your email whether you would like a copy of this, and/or the code of conduct which details how Get Berkshire Active plans to keep individuals safe during virtual sessions.
Mental health resources to beat the January blues
From the cold, dark days to the new lockdown restrictions and the long wait for COVID-19 vaccines, it's understandable to feel down in the dumps this January.
If you are struggling with your mental health, please do reach out and seek the support you deserve.
A list of some mental health charities and organisations which provide support and resources for various conditions can be found here.
Information about the NHS's talking therapies can be found here.
One of the best ways to feel better is to talk to someone. However, it can be hard, especially in lockdown or if you live alone, to find people to talk to. If you'd like a likeminded friend to chat to regularly, take a look at our Befrienders page and request a Befriender today.
Support us by buying your greetings cards!
You can now buy your cards for all occasions from Making a Difference Cards where you can choose to have all proceeds go directly to helping us help older people.
If you're stuck for present ideas, you can also add a donation to us as a gift on behalf of your loved one. Every penny we get helps us immensely, so buy your cards now and spread the word!
Reading Football Club and Age UK Berkshire are happy to announce a new project - 'The Royals' Memory Cafe, which will run every 4 weeks once the COVID-19 situation is resolved.
