New activities for older people in Eastleigh

Older people in the Eastleigh area are being invited to try Singing for Wellbeing or New Age Kurling as part of a new initiative by MHA to combat loneliness and help keep them active and healthy.

The new sessions are being offered by Eastleigh Live at Home Scheme, following its official launch last month.  Other activities include coffee mornings, gaming get-togethers, outings and visits to people in their own home if they are unable to get out.  The Scheme already has 36 members but Manager Mark Kirby is hoping to double that number and extend the sessions from five days to six days a week.

New Age Kurling is combined with a session about sporting memories and takes place each Friday from 1.30pm at Charlotte Lodge in Eastleigh.  Singing for Wellbeing takes place each Tuesday from 2.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, also in Eastleigh.

Sessions cost £3.  More information is available at www.facebook.com/eastleighmha.  New members can contact Mark on 07989 710620 or just turn up to a session, and new volunteers would also be welcome.

Mark said, “All our sessions are great, but we’re very lucky to have two wonderful volunteers running the Singing for Wellbeing sessions, one of whom is a former professional opera singer who also runs a church choir.  Singing for Wellbeing enhances people’s health and wellbeing through singing in a socially stimulating environment.

“We need volunteers for a variety of other roles, including helping at clubs, befriending a member in their own home, driving a minibus or their own car and helping with fundraising events.  Volunteering can prove to be a very rewarding experience for many people, so anyone who has some time available and enjoys the company of older people should consider volunteering for Live at Home.”

Live at Home member Lyn Kirby said, "Singing for Wellbeing lifts my whole day.  It doesn’t matter how you feel when you walk in; you always feel happy and rejuvenated when you leave.”