Locked down but free in spirit

ne of the things that occupants of our housing schemes value is the companionship of fellow believers. Over the year they arrange an interesting social calendar, including trips along canals, visits to places of interest, quizzes and other get-togethers and they especially enjoy worship services together.

These are often taken by someone from a local church or a manager or one of the residents themselves. The Easter services are particularly important, but this year our homes and housing are in lockdown, with everyone in quarantine and having to keep a distance from one another. But people living at Pilgrim Gardens in Evington agreed with the Queen, when she said in her Easter message that “Easter was more needed than ever” and they worked out that they could still worship together, albeit standing two metres apart, from their balconies on the top floor and, in the bottom, out in the garden. In other housing and homes, worship services are being given over Skype, and beamed to a big TV in the lounge, where again, residents are sitting well-spaced from one another.

In our Bethany home in Plymouth, residents had a taste of outside when they visited ‘Ye Olde Bethany Inn’. The dining room was transformed into "Ye Olde Bethany Inn", and everyone was treated to a Gastro pub style lunch made by Bethany’s catering team, Jackie and Nathan. The bar man was Brian, Maintainance Officer at the home, who served everyone their individual choice of special drink. Manager Emma Hughes said that special thanks went to long-term carer Helen, who gave them the Inn signs and the special bunting, CDs for the singalong and pretty bags to hold the after-lunch chocolate treats. After lunch, residents retired to "The Snug” to enjoy a quiz led by Activities Coordinator, Nicola.