The Befrienders on Meet Me on The Radio
Just before Christmas, The Befrienders featured on a holiday-themed episode of the Meet Me on the Radio Show.
It is a heart-warming and inspiring episode and we loved working with the team at The Albany/ Entelechy Arts.
You can listen to the show HERE!
From The Befrienders' performance at the Silver Sunday event last autumn, with over 60 online participants.
Christmas Celebrations
We had wonderful Christmas celebrations at all of our groups in December. Some of the highlights included: a belly dancing performance from La Violetta at Silver Lunch Club; The Befrienders' Christmas Cracker which also streamed over Zoom; lovely Christmas decorations with a beachy theme from Crafts Plus; and no restraint whatsoever with mince pies at Body & Bingo! Happy New Year to all!
Our Project Coordinator, Winnie Carlson, Speaks for Lewisham Local's IWD Campaign
Our very own Programme Manager, Winnie Carlson, is featured on the Lewisham Local website, discussing Ageing Well's work during the pandemic and celebrating women's achievements.
The campaign aims to view the global movement from a local landscape and individual experiences and stories.
"We want to celebrate the diverse range of voices from women who are at the forefront of Lewisham, both through their business and community involvement."
Accessible Tech
Sometimes when you're struggling with tech, it's nice to have a hard copy of instructions to hand.
One of our lovely volunteers is compiling easy-to-read, clear manuals for IT assistance with Gmail, WhatsApp and Zoom. Feel free to print out this Gmail pdf manual or forward it!
[Scroll down side bar to read document directly on our website or select the print or download options from the top menu bar.]
Patched Together Project
Be sure to check out the Patched Together online exhibition, featuring several pieces by Ageing Well members.
The Patched Together project was a collaborative project organised by Brockley's Make Mee Studio for Lewisham residents to learn creative textile skills from their homes and produce patches for a community artwork.
The Befrienders on Meet Me on the Radio
In Feb. 2021, members of The Befrienders were interviewed on an episode of the Meet Me on the Radio show in connection with The Albany theatre and Entelechy Arts.
The Sound of Hope
Feb, 2021
In the latter part of last year, The Befrienders collaborated with several other Lewisham vocal groups on the topic of hope and what is getting them through these difficult times of isolation. The result is a moving soundscape called "What is Hope?". It is an innovative mixture of recordings made within Zoom, through WhatsApp voice message, down domestic telephone lines, and on doorsteps.
Created by Natasha Lohan, with members of Trinity Laban's Inspired not Tired groups (The Befrienders, Voices in Motion, Singing for Lung Health and Young at Heart), and Trinity Laban music students. With thanks to Nick Worrall for help with the mix.
LISTEN TO THE TRACK ON SOUNDCLOUD
photo courtesy of Inspired Not Tired/ Trinity Laban
Interview with the Befrienders
The talented Jennifer Barwise, a Learning and Participation Graduate Intern at Trinity Laban, recently caught up with members of Ageing Well's Befrienders singing group. Jenny, who helps to facilitate the group's Tuesday morning Zoom sessions, asked participants what the group means to them, what they've been up to, and how they have stayed creative at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read the full interview on the
Inspired Not Tired Autumn 2020 newsletter.
WHEN YOU CAN'T BE IN THE SAME ROOM, ZOOM TO COMMUNE!
The Befrienders also feature in a recent post on the Pause and Replay blog. The blog was created by Inspired Not Tired facilitators, Natasha Lohan (session leader of the Befrienders) and Zoe Gilmour, both of Trinity Laban. Gilmour and Lohan use their blog to reflect on their delivery during lockdown.
Lohan writes, "Witnessing one another weekly in our home environments, providing comfort to one another as we share more of our lives through WhatsApp groups, the sands of what is private or public are shifting for us all the time. Caring begets trust and from there we begin to let loose and play with our performative / private selves and we begin to reform our practice in this strange new world."
Read the full post!
Photo courtesy of Inspired Not Tired/ Trinity Laban
CREATIVITY IN THE FACE OF COVID-19
"Let Me Out!" and the accompanying short musical film [SEE HOMEPAGE] were co-created by our singing group, The Befrienders, and their amazing vocal leaders from Trinity Laban, Natasha Lohan and Jennifer Barwise. The lyrics are original, written by Befriender Avril Sydee to the tune of Bing Crosby's "Swinging on a Star".
During lockdown, The Befrienders worked hard and fast to get the hang of Zoom-- with the tireless help of Jenny and Natasha. Many have said that the online sessions were a lifeline during such a difficult, isolating time. It wasn't long before the creative juices got flowing. Avril wrote the song's lyrics, and Natasha and Jenny started brainstorming on video snippets which would convey people's lockdown experience. The videos were collected through WhatsApp (also a great source of banter, laughter and connection for the group) and ingeniously edited together by Jenny and Matt Norriss with Natasha's direction.
We couldn't be prouder of this piece as evidence of humour, resourcefulness and friendship -- not to mention a celebration of the uniting and healing powers of music.
FINDING FOCUS
Last winter, members of our Silver Lunch Club enjoyed participating in a mindful photography project with eye4change's Differences in Common project. More of our members recently participated in the project which has been adapted to the changed conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Even within the confines of one's own home, photography can be a meaningful form of artistic exploration and self-expression. Try this exercise with your window!
THE ARTIST WITHIN
Lewisham's Arts Network produces an amazing 'zine called Stay Connected which is full of creative ideas and projects to keep you busy indoors.
