On Thursday 12th October, St Monica Trust held the first ever Health & Wellbeing Café for over 55s. The event which was funded by LinkAge, aimed to introduce older people to new activities and experiences that are beneficial to wellbeing.
Awaiting guests at the Southbank Club were two massage therapists and a chiropodist who were all available for reduced price bookings of £5 for 15 minute treatments. There was also a social space with free tea, coffee and a selection of beautiful cakes (including diabetic friendly cacao chocolates!), as well as a variety of musical workshops, including sing-a-long sessions, improvised song writing and drumming; and free sound therapy sessions involving gongs and singing bowls.
All 35 people who attended got involved in one or more ways, whether it was getting a treatment, socialising or taking part in one of the group musical activities. Many were also introduced to sound therapy for the first time, which provided a therapeutic background ambiance for the other therapies.
Overall there was a really relaxed, social and fun atmosphere, and everyone expressed how much they had enjoyed the afternoon:
Thank you so much for the Health & Wellbeing Café event, it reconnected me with my childhood self and has brought back my enthusiasm for life!2
Everyone was very keen for there to be another event and we received some good suggestions such as the addition of mindfulness sessions. So keep an eye out for any future Health and Wellbeing Cafe’s!
St Monica Trust is part of the LinkAge Network.