Hopecafe

The Hope Cafe offers relaxation and meditation sessions, a writing group, massage and info table and a safe place to talk.

It is in St Ninian’s Church hall every second Thursday, with the next session being held on January 10 from 10am to 2pm.

For more information find The Hope Cafe Lanarkshire on Facebook.

Stonehouse residents looking to get fit in the new year are being encouraged to join a local walking group.

A series of health walks take place each week all over Lanarkshire, with one leaving from outside the Spar in Stonehouse on Wednesdays.

The walks are short, safe and low-level, lasting no longer than an hour.

The pace is set to suit the individuals, so it is the ideal way for most people to become more active, and each walk is led by a trained volunteer.

All of the walks are organised by Get Walking Lanarkshire, a partnership project between NHS Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council and Paths for All, the umbrella organisation for health walks in Scotland.

Health walk co-ordinator Paula Hubens said: “Our health walks are a great way to get fitter after the festive period, beat the winter blues and enjoy the fresh air.

“There’s no need to book, just wear suitable footwear and come along. Most groups go for a cuppa afterwards so they’re very friendly!”

We’re often happier when we’re outdoors – and that’s the starting point for the walks that hope to improve the health across Stonehouse and beyond.

The Stonehouse walk gets under way on Wednesdays at 10.30am.

The health walks have dementia friendly walking accreditation status, with leaders having completed dementia friendly training and routes assessed as dementia inclusive.

For more information and a timetable of walks, go online to www. northlanarkshire.gov.uk/getwalking or follow Get Walking Lanarkshire on Facebook.