Learn new things at ‘virtual village hall’
Tutors offer free classes online
Tutors from Stirling are inviting local people to join in with free online classes at home while social clubs, groups and activities are postponed during coronavirus.
Qi Gong, pebble painting and seated exercise classes are just some of the activities that expert tutors from Stirling are offering at the Virtual Village Hall (royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/ VVH).
The new online activity programme is designed by Royal Voluntary Service, the national volunteering charity, and supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
The Virtual Village Hall features exercise and dance, music and singing, relaxation and meditation, arts and crafts, cooking and baking, technology skills, gardening and more. New sessions are added regularly.
Local tutors leading online sessions at the Virtual Village Hall include Phil Blackburn, Qi Gong instructor from Pause & Breathe in Stirling, local artist and designer Wendy Mcinally and Laura Taylor, an exercise instructor from Laura Taylor Fitness.
They are joined by some well-known personalities from TV shows Masterchef and The Great British Sewing Bee and from BBC Radio Wales. Phil from Pause & Breathe will be running a live Qi Gong class at the Virtual Village Hall at 3pm on Thursday August 13.
The Virtual Village Hall is open seven days a week and is available at the Royal Voluntary Service website and on Facebook. There are live and prerecorded activities on offer and all sessions can be viewed on demand on the Virtual Village Hall Youtube channel. Some downloadable guides are available to print and share and there are links to official government guidelines and Covid 19 information.
The charity’s hundreds of social clubs and groups, all organised by volunteers, are unable to meet during this time so the programme is designed to bring people together to enjoy activities at the same time, to keep active and interested, and to have fun. Thousands of people are taking part in the activities in their own homes and in care homes.
Wendy Mcinally from The Wendy House has recorded a video session. She says: “The Wendy
House supports RVS by providing a fun virtual workshop encouraging people to try something new and be creative. I hope this brings some joy in these uncertain times.”
RVS chief executive Catherine Johnstone CBE said: “Our volunteers run hundreds of clubs and groups in local communities which, with the support of People’s Postcode Lottery, support people to be social and active. Sadly, at this time, these activities can’t go ahead.
“This is a tough time for many, particularly those living alone, and we want to offer something practical to relieve the sense of isolation and boredom that many will be experiencing. Visitors to the Virtual Village Hall will find lots of activities that they might already enjoy doing, as well as new things to try.”
RVS is one of Britain’s largest volunteering charities with volunteers supporting thousands of people each month in hospitals and in the community. The charity is also one of the largest retailers in the NHS with its network of cafes and shops providing a valued haven in hospitals.
To find out more visit royalvoluntaryservice. org.uk/vvh