Community News From Around Our Area

COVID-19, Change, Challenge and Cohort 4

The past year has been challenging for most of us, and so too here at Cohort 4. Whilst many community organisations retracted to telephone helplines only from March 2020, Cohort 4 did the opposite. We rolled up our sleeves and expanded, providing a 7 day a week support service for our group members, some of whom experience loneliness and isolation at the best of times, but even more so with the added anxieties of COVID-19.

Changes in social contact rules have meant that community-based groups have had to adapt frequently, closing social group sessions and devising other ways of connecting with our communities. At Cohort 4 we’ve undertaken regular doorstep visits and deliveries of food, of essential provisions and activity resources. We’ve held 1:1 ‘Walk & Talk’ and disability ‘Scooter & Talk’ outdoor sessions and have held outdoor support sessions. We have had online video-linked groups and an evening Book Club group, enabling group members to feel connected, especially in the evenings when loneliness can hit us hardest.

Last year Cohort 4 created ‘Peace of Mind’ Zine, an uplifting small magazine created from the contributions of our group members.

Now we are happily back to our weekly social sessions at St Benedict’s Community Hall:

Mondays, 10.00am until 12 noon - Men’s Breakfast Group

Mondays, 12.30pm until 3pm - Women’s Creativity Group

Thursdays, 11.30am until 1.30pm - Women’s Lunch Club

Interested in joining us? Have a look at Cohort 4 at www.cohort4.org.uk or contact Maria on 07864 298144.