Following the widespread reduced social activity throughout the pandemic, we are pleased to now be offering an increasing number of social inclusion activities to our beneficiaries at Emmanuel House. These activities are aimed at helping people to come out of isolation, build self-esteem and confidence, as well as supporting the development of new skills and training.

This spring, our weekly sessions include Streetwise Opera, volunteering, allotment gardening and cooking. We have a programme of green-themed activities including a ‘Walk in the Park’ at Wollaton Hall and ‘Art in the Garden’ sessions at our plot on the St Ann’s allotments.

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Streetwise Opera

Our much-celebrated collaboration with Streetwise Opera has been going for many years now. They are an award-winning performing arts charity for people who have lived experience of homelessness. The Streetwise Opera Nottingham team runs a weekly session at Emmanuel House every Tuesday afternoon. It is certainly a highlight in the week and beneficiaries, volunteers and staff all enjoy the benefits of singing.

The workshops are run by professional musicians with support from Gary, one of our long-standing support workers, who together form a dynamic and creative group. The group works on performance techniques, expressing emotions and working towards performances all made for uplifting sessions that build confidence and help tackle isolation.

Beneficiary volunteering

We offer a unique opportunity on Thursday afternoons for beneficiaries to get involved and help out. This is the first step on the volunteering pathway for people who have lived experience to become volunteers.

Allotment gardening

Our allotment project has been runningbetween April and November for over 10 years now. Staff and volunteers have been maintaining the plot throughout the pandemic and now thanks to recent successful grant applications bringing in over £22,000, we are up and running again. Once again, people who are vulnerable or experiencing homelessness can participate in gardening sessions and outdoor activities. This project aims to improve mental and physical health, reduce alcohol and substance use, social isolation and offending behaviour.

Every Friday morning, our Green Activities Worker alongside Growing Forward staff visit our allotment in St Ann’s with a group of beneficiaries. Activities include clearing and preparing the site, planting, growing, weeding and harvesting. During their time at the allotment, beneficiaries are given the chance to learn new skills and develop their interests in outdoor activities.

Open Access

We have re-opened our first open access sessions since the pandemic on Friday afternoons between 2-4pm. This is a chance for past and present beneficiaries to connect with staff, services and the space in a more relaxed and informal basis.  

Cooking classes

Cooking classes take place on a Friday afternoon and cater for a wide range of tastes and skill levels. Starting with the basics of helping people start preparing food for themselves, through to more adventurous choices such as paella and Victoria sponge cake. The classes promote healthier and more affordable food choices.

Many of our beneficiaries, volunteers and staff really value these social inclusion activities and have found that they make a significant contribution to improving their overall wellbeing as well as their physical, mental and emotional health.

This week our support worker Kevin took a group of 4 beneficiaries and 2 staff to Wollaton for a walk in the park. “The walk was a gentle stroll around the lake at Wollaton Park. We were given bird feed by a park ranger and we fed the geese by hand. We watched coots nesting on the island in the lake and swifts flying overhead. We walked around and down the other side of the park and saw some deer; two does and a stag. Everyone was quite delighted and thanked me very much. One gentleman with mobility issues was particularly pleased that he was able to make it all the way around.”

If you would like to know more about any of our activities, please contact Paylor@emmanuelhouse.org.uk