Welcome to our thirteenth newsletter, we have a preview of our new online classes, At Home with St John's (coming soon!), a recipe from Chaplain Jacky Wise, and lots more.
Did you know that this week, 8-14 June, is National Carers Week? It's estimated that around 4.5 million people have become unpaid carers in a matter of weeks since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Scroll down to find out how to get involved with this cause.
There are plenty of activities to do online and at home, and if you have any suggestions or have been enjoying the newsletter and would like to share your thoughts, please do let us know.
Did you know that Events in Bath is now hosting a variety of tours and activities online? This includes Lockdown Supper Clubs and Landscape Gardening. See below for more information.
Please stay up to date with the latest news from St John’s by visiting our website and social media.
Online Classes Coming Soon
At Home with St John's
Starting soon, we will be offering online classes with all of your favourite tutors, entirely through the video conferencing platform, Zoom. So, whether you want to splash out with painting, get strumming on the ukulele or get fitter with exercise, there's something for everyone. We will be able to provide more information on this very soon, as we are just fine-tuning the content.
In the meantime, check out this video from our Get Creative tutor, Sarah Prentice, who will give you a taster of the watercolour art class she's going to be running.
Virtual Events in Bath
Bath serves as a stage for a packed calendar of events throughout the year, giving you even more reasons to visit this alluring city.
There’s lots for culture vultures. With over 120 events spread out over ten days, the multi-arts Bath Festival is the perfect excuse for a longer stay in the city. The line-up features rock, classical and world music from a host of global performers, and for bookworms, there’s an encyclopaedic literature programme of talks and question and answer sessions from top writers.
You can immerse yourself in the world of Bath’s most famous literary resident at the Jane Austen Festival, featuring elegant masked balls, walking tours and talks (many staged in locations straight out of Austen’s stories).
National Carers Week 8 - 14 June 2020
This week is National Carers Week, https://www.carersweek.org, and it couldn’t be held at a more pertinent time as it is estimated that around 4.5 million people have become unpaid carers in a matter of weeks since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. A shocking statistic and both the UK public and leading charities are now calling on the Government to recognise unpaid carers’ efforts and to rebuild the country’s care and support services.
Springwatch
It is the third week of Springwatch, and Chris Packham, Iolo Williams and Gillian Burke catch up on all the dramas from the live wildlife cameras. They are joined by ecologist Ellie Harrison, who shares her own wildlife stories live from her home in the Cotswolds.
There is an encounter with otters for wildlife cameraman Raymond Besant at his home in the Orkney Islands, and a portrait of the natural beauty of the Lake District.
Watch all episodes online here, or every Tuesday on BBC2 at 8pm.
Quick Pizza made with Wraps
A recipe from our Chaplain, Reverend Jacky Wise
"As a foodie, I've enjoyed listening to people telling me what they've cooked or perhaps what they would love to eat. I was inspired by a recent conversation with one of our residents, Pam, and I decided to experiment with her idea. Pam was telling me how she'd been using wraps to make a rather tasty and quick lunch. Pam used corn flat breads, and I tried mine with a wholemeal wrap. Once you've spread some sort of tomato sauce over the wrap you can toss all sorts of different things on top, put them under a hot grill and then watch carefully after 3-4 minutes as they cook quickly.
Whilst mine was cooking, I fried some chorizo separately and then scattered the pieces on top and drizzled the yummy oil from the frying pan all over the cooked wrap. I've also made one using artichokes from a jar and, more traditionally, adding some mozzarella. Enjoy!"
My Topping:
- Tomato bruschetta from a jar
- Sundried tomato paste
- Goats Cheese
- Sliced green chilli
- Sliced roasted peppers from a jar
- A little cheddar
- Cooked chorizo
- Fresh basil leaves
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, and the City of Bath
The city of Bath makes a great deal of fuss about its place in the life of Regency author, Jane Austen. There’s an Austen Centre, exhibits and annual celebrations, tour marketing and the like. Austen lived in Bath for nine years from 1800 to 1809, but her time in Bath was not especially significant in her own literary history. She wrote the drafts of her completed novels before moving there, and she was not published until after she had left. Meanwhile, for the longest time, the city barely acknowledges its place in the life of Austen’s contemporary author, Mary Shelley, who developed and wrote a significant portion of her greatest work while a resident there. A museum for the author of Frankenstein is now in the planning stage.
To read more, click here.
Frome Open Art Trail
The Frome Open Art Trail celebrates local artists and makers, normally taking place alongside the Frome Festival in July. Now it will be online as a Virtual Art Trail.
The organising team felt it was vital to continue the Art Trail, enabling local artists and makers to showcase their work. Often artists can show more online than from a studio, allowing people more choice to view and buy. So, they decided to create their event as a Virtual Art Trail running from 4th – 12th July 2020.
Visit their website for more information: https://www.frome-open-art-trail.co.uk/
Virtual Cream Tea
To join in, click here https://www.lifeprojectbath.org.uk/life-project-does-virtual-cream-teas/
Silver Screen Classics from the BBC
27 films from RKO Pictures, one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. Featuring films like Citizen Kane, The Vivacious Lady, Fort Apache, and many more.
To view the Silver Screen Classics click here.
And to view all films and TV available from the BBC click here.
Bath Mind Virtual 'Crafternoon'
We're taking the nation's craftiest fundraiser online. Here's everything you need to know to join in our next virtual 'Crafternoon'.
As we are spending a lot of time at home due to lockdown, there are lots of activities available to get involved in without going out; they are to look after our wellbeing, they are fun and help us feel positive - including crafting!
That's why we'll be taking the nation's craftiest fundraiser online. We'll be hosting our next virtual Crafternoon on Friday 19 June at 4pm. You'll be able to do something creative and take some time for yourself, while also helping raise vital funds for better mental health.
Don't worry if you can't join us on Friday, we'll host more over this period. Our next session, and our final Virtual Crafternoon, is at 4pm on and Friday 3 July.
Find out how to get involved here.
Swans Ballet with Kim Jones
Swans Ballet takes place online via Zoom every Tuesday at 2pm for 45 minutes. You can either attend the online class or view a recording after the session has finished.
Booking is in six week terms, costing £18 per term. The remaining term dates are as follows:
Term 7: Tues 21st July - Tues 25th Aug
Please book your place by visiting Kim's website. Any questions please email kim@k4kimdance.co.uk
20 Fun Ways to Be More Productive at Home
For most of us, self-isolation is like the whiplash you experience after an unexpected, abrupt halt after cruising at 70 miles per hour. It's jarring! But the new norm—working from home or learning from home, spending more time inside—is also forcing us all to slow down. It's not all bad, being home, once you start realizing all the fulfilling and productive things to be done there. And we're in it together! So I put together this list of fruitful and fun activities to do at home to spread the positivity around.
From www.housebeautiful.com
Check out the full list here.
Banana Bread Recipe
Here at St John's, we've been having a big baking debate and all anyone is talking about is Banana Bread! So, we thought we'd share with your our favourite banana bread recipe. Have a go and let us know how you get on.
You can find it here.
STONEHENGE VIRTUAL TOUR: INSIDE THE STONES
Take an interactive tour of Stonehenge with our 360 degree view from inside the monument.
Or, switch to 'Skyscape' to relax and enjoy a live view from within the stone circle.
The Skyscape website has been created by English Heritage to enable people around the world to experience the skies above the iconic stone circle, to learn about the movements of the sun, moon and planets and to see the solar alignment at Stonehenge.
Click here to view the Skyscape.
LinkAge Network - Activities You Can Do At Home
The LinkAge Network has lots of fantastic activities you can do from the comfort of your own home. Whether it's joining an online Zoom session and taking part in free Tai Chi sessions, joining a Telephone Chat Cafe, or building your own playlist, there's plenty of ideas and activities for you to join in with!
https://www.linkagenetwork.org.uk/activities-you-can-do-at-home/
UK Meeting Centres Support Programme Blog
Keep up to date with everything Meeting Centres – community based innovation supporting people living with dementia. Find out about the latest developments, including new Meeting Centres. Perhaps you will be inspired to set up a Centre in your community?
This page brings together a variety of resources used by Meeting Centres to support their members and family carers. While many are being used or were developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic when support was provided remotely, they may still be useful when support is provided face-to-face.
As well as being resources in their own right, they can provide inspiration for you to try with a group or suggestions for families and members to engage with together.
Morrisons Doorstep Delivery
The Morrisons Doorstep delivery service is available to vulnerable and elderly members of the community, unable to go shopping in-store.
Call 0345 611 6111 and select option 5 to place your order.
Any order placed before 5pm will aim to be delivered the very next day. In order to use this service, you must live within 10 miles of a Morrisons store. There is a quantity limit of three per item while using this service.
Deliveries will adhere to the current social distancing rules, so to avoid contact, we strongly encourage contactless card payments only. If this isn't possible, chip and pin card payments are available but no cash payments can be accepted.
Please see Morrisons' website for the list of essential items available to order.
Creativity & Wellbeing
We are re-imagining Creativity & Wellbeing Week but keeping its core identity as a festival, celebrating the groundbreaking work happening around the country bringing together culture, creativity, health and wellbeing. Our theme remains Positive Futures.
Association for Dementia Studies Blog
Useful resources
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the ADS team have been working on resources to help in different situations. These resources will be shared here as and when they become available.
Click the links below to find out more information on each subject.
For more information click here.
Care homes
Domiciliary care
Supporting people at home (domiciliary care) – COVID-19
Family and friends
Supporting people at home (informal care) – COVID-19
Community groups
Sign Up for 30 Days Wild
This June, join thousands of people taking part in our annual nature challenge, 30 Days Wild! We want you to do one wild thing a day throughout the whole month: for your health, wellbeing and for the planet. That’s 30 simple, fun and exciting Random Acts of Wildness.
You’ll get a free, downloadable pack of goodies to help you plan your wild month, plus lots of ideas to inspire you to stay wild all throughout June (and beyond!). For extra ‘bonus’ items, keep an eye on your emails for additional, fun activities, from instructions for baking hedgehog cupcakes to a beginner’s guide to wildlife photography.
To get involved, just tell us who’s taking part. If you are a childminder and want to take part with your children - the schools pack will be best suited to you.
Discover Local Food
Local seasonal fresh food from local producers.
BigBarn is the UK’s no.1 local food website. We help people to find good, safe, accountable food from local sources.
George Harding is raising money for the RUH, Bath and Macmillan Cancer Support
You can help support the fundraiser using this link to donate to the NHS.
And this one to support Macmillan Cancer Support.
BBC Rewind & Reminiscence Archive
https://remarc.bbcrewind.co.uk/
This platform provides access to a selection of footage from the BBC Archives, designed to support reminiscence therapy.
The principle of reminiscence therapy is to assist people who have dementia to interact and converse in a natural way, by stimulating their long-term memory with material from the past. It is often the case that long-term memory can still function when the person’s working (short-term) memory is degraded. Tapping into long-term memory can make it possible once again for them to enjoy interacting with others, through their stories.
A number of reminiscence systems have been developed for people with dementia, based on photographs, photo books, boxes of objects and materials and interactive computer applications. The BBC wants to contribute to this growing set of supports for people with dementia and their carers by drawing on the enormous amount of photos, videos, and sound clips in its archives.
To begin, simply select a Theme (such as Sport, Events etc.) or a Decade (1930s, 1940s etc.) and choose whether you wish to view image, audio or video content. The results are randomised, however items can be 'favourited' to return to later, if you wish.
For more information about dementia, please visit The Alzheimer’s Society or bbc.co.uk/dementia
Meals to your door
B&NES Council, AgeUK and Bath City Farm are offering home deliveries for those in need. Each service is offering daily meals at a reasonable cost, saving you time on shopping and cooking.
B&NES Council is offering a meals-on-wheels service, information can be found here: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/care-and-support-and-you/staying-your-own-home/help-meals
View AgeUK's menus here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bp-assets/globalassets/wiltshire/aukw-community-meals-menus-2020.pdf
To place an order with AgeUK please contact: communitymeals@ageukwiltshire.org.uk or phone 01793 687017 (Age UK Wiltshire)
To contact Bath City Farm - please email them at mealsonwheels@bathcityfarm.org.uk
A message from Surrinder Bains, Bath organiser for Playlist for Life
I am the local organiser based in Bath for Playlist for Life. We here at Playlist For Life understand how difficult it is to help people living with dementia and their families during this time and we would like to help in any way we can.
On our website, www.playlistforlife.org.uk we have a number of resources that can help you create a Music Playlist.
And don’t forget the 100 Years – A Century of Music Book – where each decade is available to download as a pdf. Go to https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/the-100-years-book/
Please share with anyone you feel may find them helpful and if I can be of any help with any of these, please let me know.
Stay Safe, Surrinder Bains
How to make your own face mask
People in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are now being advised to wear face coverings while at the shops or on public transport to help limit the spread of coronavirus.
While medical face masks and respirators are prioritised for health and care workers, you may wish to make an attempt of making your own face covering.
Here's our guide to different types and step-by-step instructions on how to make them.
Whether you're handy with a sewing machine, enjoy cutting up old t-shirts or just want a quick fix, the principles are the same: the more layers of material the better, and the mask needs to fit snugly around the face, and you should be able to breathe comfortably.
Volunteer Machinists
Bath Spa University and the University of Bath are working together to make hospital gowns for the Royal United Hospital, Bath.
They are looking for competent machinists, skilled in using either industrial or domestic machines. Overlocking experience will also appreciated.
Please contact Dave Tinkham to discuss your skills and availability: d.tinkham@bathspa.ac.uk
The Circus Restaurant & Bath Veg Box Project
While temporarily closed, The Circus Restaurant has teamed up with the Bath Veg Box Project who are delivering their delicious assortments of fruit and veg for £16 per box, plus any other fresh produce you may need.
There are various ways to place your order:
Call 07843643112 to get your veg box and fresh produce delivered.
Order and pay for your next day delivery/next day store pickup with their online shop: https://www.thecircusrestaurant.co.uk/
The Circus Restaurant will be open between the hours of 10.00am – 12.00 midday, Monday to Saturday, for locals to buy/collect fruit and veg boxes and staple items.
Golden Oldies Sing & Smile
The Golden-Oldies Charity is well loved by hundreds of BANES residents, known for their regular Goldies Sing & Smile sessions. These are not choirs, but social groups where people come together to enjoy each other’s company and sing-a-long to the popular hits of the 50s onwards, from artists like Cliff Richard, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, Petula Clark and many more. You don’t need to have a good singing voice to join in, just a love of music and good company.
Whilst the monthly sessions are currently closed due to the pandemic, they are pleased to continue to be providing mini live online singing sessions that you can get involved with and sing-a-long from home. Why not tune in on one or every Thursday at 2.30pm to their Facebook or YouTube channel? Or, watch pre-recorded at your convenience, completely free of charge.
Innovations in Dementia & Alzheimer's Society Useful Links
These links are provided by Innovations in Dementia and Alzheimer's Society who are working in partnership to support those who need help in this difficult time.
'Innovations in Dementia' guides and makes short films featuring people with dementia to help volunteers interact, with deliveries, befriending and transport.
http://www.innovationsindementia.org.uk/the-coronavirus-situation/
Alzheimer’s Society’s toolkit for COVID-19 volunteers:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/coronavirus-volunteer-toolkit
Daily Hope
We're pleased to share with you Daily Hope. Daily Hope is a response to the nearly 3 million older people living in the UK who cannot access the internet and who now find themselves even more isolated and cut off from those around them. Many are struggling with anxiety and fear.
If you know an older person with little or no access to online resources, please share the Daily Hope information with them. It’s a FREE phone line, so they can listen to hymns, prayers, daily reflections, and a choice of church services.
The phone number is 0800 804 8044.
Gardening from the Wellbeing College
Now is the perfect time to get out in the garden or on your allotment and start growing. Our gardening guru will be sharing her expertise and giving you tips and advice on gardening and food growing via an online video linked group. Starter kits with some veggie seeds may also be available.
https://www.wellbeingcollegebanes.co.uk/Activity/gardening-and-food-growing-online/7552
Zoom Tech Support
Shania Jones from Connecting Generations is pleased to announce that this Friday's call is featuring Surrinder Bains from Playlists For Life (https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/).
Surrinder is going to be discussing and presenting how to create your own playlist and to reconnect with music. This is a brilliant way for people to get involved and have fun. The charity is all about helping individuals (especially with dementia) reconnect with family and friends.
To join this interactive session please follow the link to a scheduled Zoom meeting on Friday at 10am. Please also send the link to anyone you know who may find the session helpful.
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/181481673
Meeting ID: 181 481 673
Video Conferencing
Below, we have included a number of live videos that you can watch and engage with from home. You’ll see that they are all linked by the free video chat application 'Zoom', which can be downloaded here. You can also use Zoom to stay in contact with family and friends, with video chats online for free!
Exercise Classes with Liz Coleman
Join Liz every Monday from 12-1pm live on Zoom for her weekly session. Click here to take part in a fun, friendly exercise class that you can do straight from your own home.
Staying in touch
For more information on using social media and other forms of staying in touch with friends and family, visit this BBC article.
Free access to exercise at home
In addition to the many online exercise videos on the internet right now (see below), we are also able to offer tailored exercises from 2 of our fantastic tutors:
Here is the brilliant Jules with some short mindfulness and yoga videos:
Visit Jules Yoga Wellbeing page on Facebook for online yoga tutorials.
Liz Lees Yoga programme is available upon request - please email community.outreach@stjohnsbath.org.uk.
By using YouTube (see Entertainment section below), you can stay healthy by following a number of online videos. We’ve got the following suggestions (just remember, they’re not for everyone, and only do what you can!):
BBC Exercising at Home – the BBC are offering tips on exercising at home, and The Green Goddess – “the original keep-fit queen of the 80s - is making a comeback on BBC Breakfast. Eighty-year-old Diana Moran will be doing exercises three times a week from self-isolation so viewers can follow along at home”.
Chair Yoga – for beginners and anyone wanting seated chair yoga.
General Work Out – aimed at older persons, can be done seated or
Previous Newsletters
Click on the links below to access previous newsletters, each week full of different and fun things to do:
We hope you will find this useful while our activities are temporarily suspended. Please forward this information pack on to anyone who you feel would benefit.