Author: Friend to Friend

Friend To Friend is a charity operating in several villages of the Holme Valley of West Yorkshire. We aim to help the older generation of the community to enjoy a less isolated, less lonely, healthier and more active old age. We do so by organising social events, project groups and shared meals along with transport to and from the activities.

Marsden group closes

Our Marsden Group meet for the final time

On 22nd June 2023 our Marsden group held their final meeting, as lead volunteers Liz and Cynthia finally achieved their long-held desire to step down.

Sisters Liz and Cynthia have led the Marsden group single-handedly for around 15 years, keeping in touch with their members throughout the Covid lockdown as well as during individual illnesses, despite themselves having tough times on occasion, and having expressed their desire to step down from leading the group over 5 years ago! They have proved themselves to be truly dedicated to their group, but we are so glad they put their foot (feet?!) down finally to close this chapter of their lives and move on to the next.

Charity Trustees Val, Damian and David accompanied Meltham’s Lead Volunteer and friend Jenny to interrupt the Marsden group’s final session with a presentation of flowers and restaurant vouchers for Liz and Cynthia.

While the Marsden group has now disbanded, Val and Jenny took time to explain to the members about our other groups in Meltham, Holmfirth and Honley. This seemed to be well received by several of the ladies, who do seem already very well-served by other social groups and events in Marsden. We wish all our Marsden members well for their future beyond Friend to Friend, and lots of love and our wholehearted thanks go to Liz and Cynthia for all their time and care given so generously over all those years.

Meltham Men’s Group update

Our men’s group, meeting at Meltham Sports and Community Centre, will be restarting on Tues 17th August (12-2), and will then continue as before on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.

New members are very welcome, but most of all we are in need of new volunteers to help. Good conversation and lunch are guaranteed, and a pint or round of dominoes are optional extras!

Please contact John on 07880 730242 for more information.

Meltham group urgently needs drivers!

Our Meltham group, providing a hot lunch and entertainment on the first Friday of each month, is desperately in need of volunteer drivers (mileage can be paid) to get our members to and from the Meltham Methodist church hall.

The group will restart from Friday 3rd September. If you can help with transport, please ring Jenny on 07762 816220.

Holmfirth Group restarting after covid

Our Holmfirth group is set to restart from the 6th August 2021, following our old pattern of the first, third and last friday of each month. We will be welcoming a few new members as well as looking forward to seeing lots of familiar friends again!

Our first session will be a chance to chat and catch up over a few cuppas and a light lunch. To look forward to over the next couple of months are Coddy’s long promised pork pie-making (he was booked for the week the UK went into lockdown) and another visit by wildlife photographer Mick.

We ask that all attendees are double-vaccinated, use the hand sanitizer provided at the door, and we will talk about whether members would like us all to do home covid tests before each session.

We are very much looking forward to getting back together and will do our very best to keep us all safe, well-fed and entertained. If you know of anyone who might help out with transport to and from people’s homes, please get in touch with Gillian or Louise. We are quite short of drivers!

Message from Meltham’s Jenny

Hi everyone. I decided as it was a Saturday I needed something different for breakfast, so I had a bacon & tomato butty. This afternoon has been spent working re-potting some tubs. We re-potted our Christmas tree, put agapanthus & begonias in 2 pots and potted marigolds & begonias into a trough on the wall.

I’m showered and now ready for a bit of relaxation. I hope everyone is keeping well and finding plenty to do.

Today Marian, a Meltham volunteer, celebrated her 80th Birthday.

love from Jenny

Looking after yourself during ‘lockdown’

Keeping fit and well-fed

Easy home exercises to try

NHS-exercises-for-older-adultsDownload

Break up long periods of sitting down Many of us are finding that we’re sitting down for quite a lot of the day at the moment. It’s a good habit to try and get up once an hour and stretch your legs a little. Even if it’s just walking to the kitchen to put the kettle on, or doing the washing up, it all helps. But if you find standing difficult, just moving your arms and legs for a few minutes every hour will also help break up those long stretches of sitting.

Do some gentle stretching Stretching is a great way to keep supple, and doing it daily can also help improve flexibility and balance. You can even do it sitting or lying down. Try the following stretching exercise from Age UK:

  • Sit on a chair
  • Lift your leg up off the seat keeping your knee bent
  • Return to sitting position
  • Repeat with the other leg.

Try sitting exercises from your chair Sitting doesn’t necessarily mean being inactive. There are actually quite a few exercises you can do from a sitting position. But make sure to choose a chair that is stable, solid and doesn’t have wheels. And you should be able to sit with your feet flat on the floor and knees bent at right angles. Try this exercise from the NHS:

  • Sit upright with your feet flat on the floor, cross your arms and reach for your shoulders
  • Without moving your hips, turn your upper body to the left as far as is comfortable
  • Hold for five seconds
  • Repeat on the right side
  • Repeat five times on each side.

Improve your balance Better balance is key to reducing your chances of a fall, but you don’t need to try anything tricky. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has six easy strength and balance exercises you can have a go at. The one-leg stand is a good example:

  • Stand close to a support (such as a chair) and hold it with one hand
  • Balance on one leg, keeping the support knee soft and your posture upright
  • Hold the position for 10 seconds
  • Repeat on the other leg.

To keep us entertained

LIVING ROOM BROADWAY CONCERTS

National Gallery of Art, Washington, USA

The National Theatre (lots of videos and a full length play free every Thursday)

…Everybody loves a funny cat video!

Enjoy all, and keep well!

x

Coronavirus update

Our board of Trustees have made the difficult but prudent decision to pause all our groups’ activities for the time being, to help protect our members from spread of Coronavirus. We do not want any of our members to feel isolated, however, so our volunteers will keep in touch with each other by phone, and will ring any members who would welcome calls. Any members who would like check-in calls please get in touch. You are not abandoned, and we hope soon to see everyone back enjoying Friend to Friend.

Love to all!