‘Connected’ – a new project reaching out to people without internet access
Anna Chaplaincy network member Sally Nevitt, Older Persons Director, at Immanuel Church, Bournemouth tells of a way of reaching those left behind in the pandemic world of reliance on new technology:
A simple concept using a conference call system means we can offer a range of different activities for people to join in with. They can access the activity one of two ways, either they can dial in and enter a room number when prompted or we can hold their number on our database, ring out and all they need to do is press the hash key and they are connected with others in the “room”.
We are currently offering seven activities, a Midweek Service with Communion, a Psalm and reflection, a short story, a current affairs discussion, quizzes, crosswords and bingo. We are planning to expand this and offer at least two activities each day, catering for a variety of tastes.
This project for which we have produced a flyer has had a very enthusiastic response and is ensuring that the most vulnerable and isolated members of the community are not forgotten. We have been blessed with some funding to help promote the scheme and are sending out 500 flyers in an effort to reach more people.
