Bury St Edmunds foodbank charity eyes the future as classes go online

A Bury St Edmunds charity is running virtual art and mindfulness classes – and is looking at how it can adapt its services to serve the community when the coronavirus lockdown is eased.

Gatehouse, which runs a dementia hub and foodbank, had commissioned Mindfulness for Later Life face to face groups but due to the ongoing restrictions will now offer them online as well as art groups through Art Branches.

Amanda Bloomfield, chief executive of the charity, said while their foodbank had been the ‘main priority’, handing out about 70 food parcels a week compared to 30 pre-crisis, they were still doing what they can ‘at a distance’ to support clients’ mental health.

The Mindfulness groups are being led by clinical psychologist Dr Adele Pacini and involve a weekly meeting via Zoom, audio recordings of the practices and handouts to download.

Dr Pacini said: “I have delivered these groups in the NHS for several years, and the feedback and outcomes from them have been very positive, we have found that it improves people’s attention and memory, as well as reducing loneliness, low mood, stress, anxiety and chronic pain. I have also worked with memory clinic patients, and it has improved memory functioning in people in the early stages of dementia, mild cognitive impairment or people suffering from carer stress.”

The group is likely to run in May/June, and places are free but are limited. Register interest by emailing mindfulaterlife@gmail.com or info@gatehouse.org.uk.

For the Art Branches classes, materials can be delivered to those interested. Email artbranches@icloud.com

Meanwhile, Amanda said Gatehouse is considering what additional services it may need to provide in the wake of the pandemic.

“We think there will be a lot more unemployed, a lot more self employed having to retrain so we’re looking at CV writing, interview courses,” she said. They are also looking at potentially working with counsellors and providing holistic therapies.

To donate to Gatehouse, visit http://www.gatehouse.org.uk/