I used to have a poster on my wall that said ‘normal is just a cycle on the washing machine’!

However, as most of us know, the restrictions are easing and we are starting to see a return to our usual lives. Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre is now open again with conditions in place to ensure we all remain safe.

We can’t yet start up our groups and programs but we are all hoping that it will not be long before we can do this.

Please keep following the physical distancing and hygiene suggestions wherever you are and take care of yourselves and those around you.

This has been a challenging time for us all. For some, social isolation has been very very hard, with all the usual places closed and not being able to see family and friends.

One of the big issues in the world today is loneliness. There are times in all our lives where it is easy to become cut off from others and find ourselves feeling very lonely. For people who live alone, trips to the shops, going to groups, attending Church or taking part in sports or activities is a way of keeping in touch with others. So is dropping into the Neighbourhood Centre for a cuppa!

For many people, ‘lockdown’ during COVID 19 has made this loneliness harder and for some people that may result in depression and anxiety getting worse.

If you are feeling this way please reach out for help. There are a number of helplines and services that can give you some support. (See below) Remember that you can also ring or call in the Neighbourhood Centre and we will help with some ideas and referrals. Or just have a chat and a cuppa with you.

One of the reasons Neighbourhood Centres exist is to provide a safe meeting place and a place to find out what is happening in your community. This blog page, our Facebook group and the newsletters and calendars we put out can help you find some ways of breaking down some of the loneliness.

It can be scary to reach out for support and sometimes we are ashamed to admit that we are lonely, sad or anxious. These things can happen to any of us at times in our lives and you probably be surprised at how many people have had similar experiences.

So if COVID 19 has made things even harder for you please reach out for help and support and if you are not sure where to go for this help, give us a call or drop in and we can help you with that.

Take care.
Shirley