This psychosocial intervention works!

First, a shout out for the Wesleyan Reform Union of Churches! I was invited to the annual conference last month to talk about encouraging older people in their faith and engaging them in their church life. It was one of the warmest Christian conferences I’ve attended, with friendly, enquiring participants who wanted to build the faith of people of every age, not just the young. The conference was part business and wholly faith. In my morning talk we looked at the values of the older generation and the challenges they faced in an ageist culture, and ways of engaging that are meaningful to them. The afternoon session was for brain-storming; and for sharing what churches were doing and what worked well, and coming up with new concepts. Then, a pastor in the front row pointed out that I’d missed something very important, and out of that observation came an idea that might be helpful to many others.

Pastor Andy Wilcock took the microphone and told me, “You haven’t talked about Brain and Soul Boosting!” Then he turned to the audience and said, “It’s brilliant. It’s sessions in the workbook that encourage people to build relationships as they go through them. It’s interactive, and there’s a warmth about it, and people who are usually quiet and not speak will open up. And people can share something that’s unique to them, from their own life experiences. It builds confidence, and we find that some will engage more in the Bible studies on other days.

“During lock-down we did it over zoom, and some people phoned in and just listened. Before lock-down we had about 15 to 18 people coming regularly, but it’s dropped since then to around 12.

“News of it has spread by word of mouth and people come from other churches, too.

“The sessions in the workbook look very simple in part, and one participant initially said that it looked ‘childish’, but he came to try it and found it had more depth than he realised.

“Some of the charts, with answers to quizzes and things in the book I’ve put on my computer, and if anyone is interested, I can let them have copies.”

Looking back at me said they were doing the session on ‘Bread’. That session begins with different kinds of breads on display, but he said with a smile, “We’re using Yorkshire rolls.”

Brain and Soul Boosting is warm and fun, and is a ‘psychosocial intervention.’ Studies show that psychosocial interventions for cognitive stimulation are more effective than drugs in preventing cognitive decline; in fact, the feedback we receive shows that it improves it.

Earlier this year researchers set out to find whether there was a maximum ‘effective dose’ as there would be with pharmaceuticals. They found that 12 – 14 ‘doses’ (in our case sessions) had maximum effect, others who are using it that people come because they enjoy it. It also does what it says on the cover, and helps affirm and strengthen their faith.

In conversation later we wondered whether a Brain and Soul Boosting User’s Group meeting over Zoom would be a good idea. Andy Wilcock will be happy to share charts he’s made and ideas for games, and we know there are other leaders, such as Sally and Jo in Stapleford, who are writing their own themes within the structure of each session. If you would be interested in hearing more about the User’s Group email louise.morse@pilgrimsfriend.org.uk