A leading charity is reaching out to its community by hosting a packed schedule of weekly virtual activities to combat loneliness and isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Beacon Centre is running more than 15 free sessions every week during the latest lockdown with staff hosting activities via Zoom or telephone conferencing. 

From book clubs to social chats, quizzes, yoga and the latest tech news, there is something for everyone. Staff say the sessions have acted as a support network with people sharing how they cope with their health conditions. The Beacon Centre’s Health and Wellbeing Director Jan Burns MBE said:

“From the onset of this pandemic, our dedicated staff have been committed to supporting people with services such as ourlifestyle packages, Talking News and welfare calls, to check how people are.

”Everyone knows howtough lockdown is, and how it can be especially difficult for those with a disability such as sight loss. 

“That’s why we’re delighted to be able to offer these activities so that people, from their own home, can meet up ‘virtually’ with others, have fun, learn something new and go some way to alleviate loneliness and isolation.”

The sessions are free and open to people with sight loss and associated conditions. 

As well as making the sessions available via telephone conferencing the charity is also working to support those who struggle with accessing the internet with a how to guide for accessing Zoom and a separate digital inclusion project. 

To find out more information and for the links to join a session please contact Kim Williams via email or by calling 01902 880 111.