Keeping our spirits up during lockdown

Middlesbrough’s Central Library has hosted the # HelpBoro hub, designed to help residents look after themselves during the lockdown. Staff have been dropping off shopping and prescriptions, packing food parcels, as well as creating a daily bedtime story broadcast featuring librarian Tammy and her dog Monty.

B- Arts in Stoke- on- Trent has been keeping people well- fed during the lockdown, providing bread from its in- house bakery, as well as takeaways and groceries on a “pay- as- you- feel” basis. The community bakery and arts cafe, Bread in Common, offers less engaged communities a gateway to take part in creativity.

Acta community theatre in Bristol has hosted free weekly Making Time events, providing older people with creative activities and a chance to connect with others over a home- cooked meal. They have also developed a partnership with food distribution charity FareShare, allowing them to deliver weekly parcels containing food and craft materials to residents.

Ark T arts centre in Oxford has joined Kindness Wave, a group founded to support young people needing care during the Covid- 19 crisis. They have been distributing packages of art activities and materials to families to help children stay creative.

The Royal Academy of Dance launched RAD@ Home, providing virtual classes to help people of all ages stay healthy from the comfort of their home.

The Box museum, gallery and archive in Plymouth launched Box on the Box – a free live- streaming service for local care homes. It features a weekly reminiscence session with live commentary, alongside film footage.

Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange in Cornwall has been sending out postcards for people to document their lives, using collage, text, drawing or print. They will be exhibited as part of a celebration of individual creativity.