Community Connections - Feb 2022
What a fantastic start to 2022 our group of friends have had. We started the new year with lunch, chatting and catching up with each other, but this time, in a different setting. It was truly lovely. We are super excited to get back to our weekly catch ups at Greenhill Community Hub – Skelmersdale. on Thursdays. We can’t wait to get started on some amazing new craft projects together this year, whilst enjoying a natter, a cuppa and a piece of cake. Bingo will continue once a month with some beautiful prizes which our group have kindly donated. It is going to be wonderful.
As for most people, it was a difficult start for our group last year with lockdowns and restrictions. Throughout the year each of our members also had their own personal difficulties with grief, isolation, and loneliness. During 2021 Some of our members lost loved ones, battled with mental health and physical health and there have been many times these difficulties have felt too much to overcome. The support from our members for each other in our community group has been overwhelming. It has been simply beautiful to watch friendships develop and grow. To watch how support from others, even from people who may not know each other that well, can help lift people up and help them feel that tiny bit better about themselves, even for just a second, has been inspiring. This is what it’s all about. This is what we as a community group are all about.
Apart from the wonderful friendships that have been made in the last 6 months, we have also dabbled in some arts and crafts projects. During which, we discovered many of our members have hidden skills and some people are not only very creative but extremely skilled in some areas. It has been delightful to see the artistic talents of our members and to introduce ideas which our members embrace and then even teach their children/grandchildren the new skill they have learned afterwards. Lots of fantastic craft projects we have tried have turned out to be not only a huge success, but quite beautiful.
Our biggest challenge at the end of the year was to make earrings and jewellery for our Divine Days Christmas stall. The hope was to help raise enough money for our young Divine dancers to have dance uniforms and costumes for their incredible performances. A few of our skilled jewellery makers in our group brought the tools, beads and skills we needed, and we began. This brought us all closer than ever before and we had sharing of ideas, lots of laughing, and lovely compliments on people’s skills. What a pleasure this project turned out to be. It was a huge success and we helped to reach the target. Now, our beautiful young dancers have their brand-new beautiful kit and costumes.
Working closely with West Lancs CVS, we had the pleasure of the company of Rachael Milliband for the month of December. Rachael came to us as a volunteer. She was looking to gain experience working with adults of all ages and backgrounds, adults with disability and adults suffering loneliness. Rachael was an absolute delight to work with and became one of our friends instantly. Rachael also had hidden skills which she so kindly brought to our group. Within one session, Rachael had taught 7 of us how to make tinsel using wool and weaving sticks. It was a lovely end to the year and we where all so happy and proud of what we had made. One of our members taught her children this new skill when she got home and then her children enjoyed weaving. A new hobby for many people which Rachael had given to us. The best Christmas present from her we could ask for.
We have also had Katy Fells as a Volunteer this year. She has been helping members with craft projects and chatting about her future dreams and aspirations with older generations. Katy is always on hand to help make hot and cold drinks for our members with a smile. And again, Katy realised during last year that she enjoyed making diamond pictures, as she had watched and learned from other people in the group. One lady so kindly offered her a new project to work on and off she went. Another new skill gained in our community group. Our Volunteers have proven to be such an asset to Divine days Community Connections, we are hugely thankful, and we value all they have to bring.
Quotes from our members.
“Do you know, I have never met such a group of more friendly people in all my life”
“I have taught my daughter how to weave tinsel and she loves it; I love learning new skills in the group which I can teach my kids.”
“Oh, I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t come here, it would be horrible.”
“Do you mind if I become a member myself from now on? it’s just I really enjoy coming here.”
“I don’t mind being honest with you all, I am really very lonely, but I feel way better when I come here.”
“I feel much more comfortable in the group now that we are able to sit socially distanced.”
“Oh I have missed you all, and I know it has only been a week, but I haven’t seen anyone or left the house since I was here last time.”
“Coming here just makes it all go away even if its for 2 hours, it just really helps me.”
During the last 6 months, our group members have made friendships within the group and developed them outside of the group too. All different ages, with different physical and mental capabilities from different backgrounds and different religions. Upon leaving our lovely lunch yesterday, one lady said to another, “don’t forget to pop over for a cuppa tea, you are welcome anytime to pop over my deer.” The other lady was elated.
Connecting people through Divine days Community Connections group is just wonderful.
For me as a Community Developer/Coordinator it has been, and will continue to be, a real pleasure for me to be a part of. For me personally, I have developed relationships with some truly inspiring, supportive, empathic and caring people, who I am proud to say are now my friends.