Jesmond Library and St Georges Church are holding a series of online events across the autumn to help the community re-connect and target loneliness throughout the winter.

St George’s Church have introduced their book groups, every Wednesday at 8pm, and virtual coffee mornings and choir practice, every Friday at 10am and 7:20pm, as online Zoom sessions.

Jesmond Library, which has recently started to offer a click and collect service, have now organised a ‘Zooming into Autumn’ series. This has included wellbeing for life sessions, coffee mornings and evening talks with special guests.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic many people have found themselves extremely isolated. Statistics from Age UK suggest over one million older people say they “always or often” felt lonely before the impact of coronavirus, which could now be exacerbated by the incoming winter months and new lockdown measures.

Many across our community are missing the connection found in local groups that would usually be on offer across Jesmond. The move towards these being held online could be a great way to reconnect with friends and try to master the art of Zoom.

Chris Clarke from Friends of Jesmond Library told JesmondLocal that many attendees had struggled with the online element of the events, meaning fluctuating interest throughout the series.

“Many sessions would be more like a Zoom class, with the first 20 minutes being spent getting attendees up to speed on the online format,” he said.

Clarke added he found many people who would usually attend the groups in person were failing to show up to the Zoom groups, which he felt was due to the lack of social elements of the new format.

However, Sheila Manley, who has been regularly attending the library Zoom groups has found them extremely valuable.

She told JesmondLocal: “The world becomes smaller when you’re older, but the with the groups I am seeing people I haven’t seen for a long time”.

She added she didn’t find the use of Zoom too difficult due to the guidance from the library and although she originally resisted technology, as she felt it was too much of an intrusion, due to lockdown and the library sessions she has been introduced to it gently.

Reverend Derek Avery, one of the three reverends at St George’s Church, told us their events had been very well attended.

“The online sessions are helping reach out to people who would never walk through the doors of the church, even from as far as London,” he said.

Helen Young, a member of the online choir, said that they had tried to bring a social element to their groups by deciding every few weeks the group would be held just for chatting instead of choir practice. She found that singing from home can sometimes help people feel more confident due to other members not being able to hear them.

If you want to get involved in any events at St George’s Church please contact the office at office@stgeorgesjesmond.org.uk or for any Jesmond Library events please contact enquiries@jesmondlibrary.org. You can also attend any of the St George’s church services on the church website.