Staying safe, staying connected – tackling lockdown loneliness in North London

Pandemic restrictions kept many older people safe but cut them off from their usual sources of contact.

An innovative project in Haringey has brought together older residents and younger volunteers, to tackle isolation through companionship, walks and online creativity.

Reaching diverse communities – people often excluded from the arts – has always been a key role for Jacksons Lane, the flagship cultural centre in Haringey. They have a wide range of projects to help dismantle traditional barriers to the arts so that people who might be excluded because of age, economics or where they live can enjoy the benefits of engaging with the arts.

But when the pandemic hit and the capital went into the first lockdown, they noticed a decline in the mental wellbeing of people they work with, with more feelings of loneliness and anxiety, especially among older people.

Adrian Berry, Artistic Director, said: “Although staying at home helps protect older adults from the virus, it can lead to other serious problems. There are physical issues, such as loss of mobility and balance from moving around less. But just as serious is the psychological impact of living with stress, uncertainty and increased loneliness.”

Jacksons Lane wanted to find a way to support older members of the community, and so, with funding from Thrive LDN, the Feeling Good programme was born. To date, 75 volunteers have been trained and matched with 75 older people. The volunteers call for a weekly chat, offer any help or support that might be needed, go out for a socially distanced walk, and generally provide what Jacksons Lane describes as ‘smiles and connection’ to fend off lockdown blues.

Careful matching of volunteers has been a key to the project’s success. They include Laura, an A&E research nurse, who was matched with Melissa, who at 96 was the project’s oldest beneficiary. Melissa has now sadly passed away, but as Laura said:

“Melissa had an active social life before the pandemic, she went to lunch club four times a week, spent time with her friends in the building, was a keen reader; the pandemic disrupted that for her.

“I feel privileged to have got the short time I did to get to know her through our weekly phone calls. As a nurse myself I enjoyed talking to her about our nursing careers and listening to her experiences.

“Through Feeling Good I hope we provided her some additional companionship during the last months of her life and the knowledge that someone was there should she have needed the help.”

With socialising so restricted and the world moving online, Jacksons Lane realised there was a need to help older people improve their digital skills. This has meant that the regular Lockdown Lunches could move online, where they have become a hub of creativity. Participants are writing and performing a soap opera, Corona Sisters, something that keeps them busy between meet-ups as they polish their contributions.

Clair Chapwell, who facilitates Lockdown Lunch, says: “Jacksons Lane has made professional recordings of our podcast, aptly named The Corona Sisters; be prepared to have all your ideas shattered about what older people think, feel, and are capable of.”

Clara, for example, was very shy when she first joined Lockdown Lunch, a weekly online programme for older adults, but welcomed by the group she gradually began to join in. Then one day she said she had a poem she’d like to read. The following week, she said she wanted to sing.  She had never sung or read her writing to anyone before.

“She now writes a poem or sings every week,” says Radhika Jani, who leads on Lockdown Lunch. “She’s incredibly creatively energised throughout the week. She even did her first bit of acting by taking part in the play and she’s submitted her poetry to a competition.”

Gillian is another person whose creativity has been helped by Feeling Good. Her volunteer Mark explains:

“Considering Gillian is in her eighties and walks with a stick, we’ve covered quite a bit of ground on our walks. We’re getting on pretty well. Last weekend we were out for over two hours, walking and chatting.

“We cover all sorts. Cooking, music, comedy, drinking (ahem). And family. Lots of talk about our families and friends. Including those who are still with us and those who have gone, we have some common ground there.

“Gillian has started getting her story down on paper. It’s quite a tale, from what I’ve heard so far. She started on it before we met. As I work as a writer and editor, she asked me if I’d help her pull it together, especially as she has some issues with her hands these days, which make it difficult for her to write.

“I said I’d be delighted to be of some use. We think we can make a bit of a thing of it. We’ll give it a go. I’m very happy with things already. I hope Gillian is too.”

Volunteers have been vaccinated, and they all receive training, so they are well-placed to spot if their buddy needs practical or other help.  Roberta was matched with Mitchell, who had had very little contact with the outside world.

“He was at first nervous,” she said. “But he came forward to ask for my help with sorting out his TV license, filling out his Census and calling Personal Independence Payment to ask for statement of entitlement to be sent to his address.

“This was easy for me to help but he was anxious about these mounting problems. I was also worried about the fact that he didn’t seem to be eating enough, so I organised basic socially distanced cooking lessons, including a pizza night, funded by Feeling Good.

“I strongly believe that volunteering on a community level is something we should all consider if we have time in our lives to do it. I have met people I otherwise would never have met and learned about the colourful and varied lives of the characters around me.”

Jacksons Lane is now working closely with Homes For Haringey, the supported living schemes for over 55s in the borough, receiving referrals for Feeling Good and tackling digital inclusion. They’re also receiving clinical referrals from local mental health services.

Adrian Berry said: “As a team, we are most proud of delivering such a one-on-one project, giving each beneficiary and volunteer the time they need in order to develop, grow and learn. Being able to improve older adults’ lives, providing comfort through connection, and encouraging those that can continue beyond the pandemic, to be brave and live a full a life as possible, is an honour.” In the words of one of the participants, the scheme has been “Something to look forward to each week. Good to just talk to a ‘human’ and share our life experiences and stories.”