The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)

Cuppa Club is just the tonic after a stroke

- CHLOE IRVINE

Aberdeen’s Cuppa 30 years.Club has helped stroke survivors to regain their confidence and mobility for

Meeting every week, it offers people a chance to get together, share their experience­s and take part in new activities.

It was started in 1992 by Mary Harding, now 80, who is still a regular at the Froghall Community Centre sessions.

She recently handed the reins to volunteer Tony

Grogan, who is keen to see some new faces.

He said: “We’re here to help them regain their confidence and help with their mobility.

“A lot of these people don’t go out (much) during the week, this is their only trip out, so it’s something to look forward to.

“We have a great time, we go to coffee shops, garden centres, we went to the Spotty Bag Shop in Banff a couple of weeks ago.”

While Covid halted the likes of yoga and physical

We’re here to help them regain their confidence and help their mobility

exercise classes, Mr Grogan hopes they can return soon.

“They sit on chairs, as most people have got mobility issues and do stretches,” he said.

“Sometimes we stand up and do some yoga at the back of the chair.

“It gives them confidence and you get to see how

people progress (with their mobility).”

Additional­ly, any potential fresh faces don’t have to have experience­d a stroke to sign up. All are welcome for a chat, cuppa, home bakes and biscuits.

Cuppa Club runs every Thursday from 10am-12pm at Froghall Community

Centre in Aberdeen. The group doesn’t receive grant funding, so members are asked to chip in £3 a week to help cover the costs.

More informatio­n about Cuppa Club Aberdeen can be found on the Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland website.

 ?? ?? WELCOME: Tony Grogan has taken over at the Cuppa Club. Picture by Kenny Elrick.
WELCOME: Tony Grogan has taken over at the Cuppa Club. Picture by Kenny Elrick.

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