Hello
Welcome to your January Livability Community Engagement E-Newsletter. In this edition:
- Reflection from Elizabeth Harrison, Chaplaincy Manager
- Find out how people we support are staying connected with chaplaincy
- Get moving with Mr Higgins' inclusive activity videos
- Book recommendation for spiritual wellbeing
As our third lockdown continues, Elizabeth Harrison reflects on the changes in our social interactions, and how this has helped our wellbeing.
Happy New Year! In yet another lockdown, I’ve been thinking about the ways that life has changed for the better in this new way of being. While there is so much that I miss and can’t wait to return to, it’s good to reflect on the unexpected benefits – perhaps there are aspects about your experience now that you’d like to keep hold of too?
Lockdown has stripped away so many things that usually occupy our time, making space to catch up properly
with friends and family. And with so little to say under the topic of “what have you been doing?”, conversations are more quickly turning to “how have you been doing?”. I’m hopeful that the care and candour we’re learning in the place of small talk will remain with us for years to come.
Sharing our cultural high points
Living in London for the past decade, I’ve enjoyed access to world-class debate, culture and sporting
events, often for free, and available whenever the mood takes. City life isn’t for everyone, and now many of the events where “you just had to be there” are moving online, bringing them in reach of anyone with an internet connection. Sharing concerts and lectures with colleagues and friends who are far away has helped us to find common ground.
Leading each other in prayer and worship
For those who serve in their local church, Sundays can be exhausting. The work of leading a service can mean that we’re often too busy with practicalities to connect with God. This lockdown, I’ve attended services later in the day to be “fed”, alongside active participation in my own church, free from distraction. And in this week of
prayer for Christian unity, it’s good to acknowledge that we can benefit from the perspective offered by traditions other than our own.
I hope in your times of reflection you can, likewise, find elements of your experience now that you will strive to keep, in a sort of reverse New Year’s Resolution! Whatever it brings, I wish you well for the year ahead.
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Staying connected with chaplaincy
December is always a social time, but this year the people we support weren’t able to meet friends in person, because of coronavirus. Instead, Zoom calls with the new Chaplaincy team helped everyone to stay connected.
Every day we met online, to have fun, to try something new, and connect with God and each other. Over 50 people we support came along to at least one session, with activities contributed by Livability staff across the UK. Crafts, dancing, and signing carols in Makaton kept us active, with a quiz from Treetops proving a highlight.
During lockdown, chaplaincy calls are helping people to pray and understand the bible together. These weekly meetings, alongside exercise and activity sessions are keeping people we support connected and forging friendships between our Services.
What's next for Chaplaincy?
Many people we support are loyal members of local churches, which have supported them well during the pandemic. When we can meet in
person safely, Livability will recruit volunteer chaplains to strengthen links between services and churches, support our staff, and champion the full participation of disabled people in community life.
Inclusive activity videos with Mr Higgins
Mr Higgins, Head of PE at Livability Victoria School, is producing inclusive activity videos, which you might find useful to use in your community. These videos, primarily for the benefit of our students at the school, are accessible and welcome for everyone to use. During lockdown, we are all learning to adapt what we do and staying active can be harder than ever in these cold winter
months, so Mr Higgins is offering a fun, creative way for people with disabilities to get moving. Join him live every day at 5pm on YouTube, or catch up on his sessions whenever works for you.
Book recommendation from Renew Wellbeing
Renew Wellbeing is a charity which runs simple café-style spaces, attached to a quiet room where inner habits of wellbeing are shared. Their Director, Ruth Rice, longs for every church to find ways to bring God’s peace onto the high street and
open spaces for all to attend to their wellbeing. She has spoken at Livability mental health events and journeyed with us as we developed this area of work. Her new book, Slow Down, Show Up & Pray is a timely and insightful book packed full of practical resources to help local communities to renew wellbeing.
Slow Down, Show Up & Pray by Ruth Rice is published by Authentic Media January 8th, ISBN: 9781788931830,
£9.99
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