If you have any links you would like to share, please contact us at the Parish Office (parishofficeleckhampton@btinternet.com).
Resources to enhance well-being during uncertain times
To provide comfort and support
All Souls’
At the beginning of November, many churches hold a special service to remember those whom we love yet see no longer. Click to see details of the St Peter’s All Souls’ Service.
Bereavement Support
AtaLoss.org is the UK’s most comprehensive hub of bereavement support and information for anyone bereaved and for those supporting them. You can easily search using filters according to age, location or relationship to the deceased and find support from the many hundreds of services listed, confident that the details are accurate, up to date and offer choices from a wide range of support available. Useful things to read, helplines and a FREE live-chat counselling service are also available on www.ataloss.org to help anyone deal with their loss, whatever the circumstances and whatever their faith or none.
- Light a virtual candle to remember a loved one.
- Prayer and worship resources for use at home
Contact, Listen, Bless
The Church of England as part of a partnership called Loss and Hope, has created a video to help spread the word about how anyone can help to support the bereaved, particularly during the pandemic.
Contact, Listen, Bless video
Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line. The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind.
BBC Soundscapes
Spending time in nature can improve mood and wellbeing, but not everyone has easy access to the natural world. The BBC has brought together virtual soundscapes of music and nature from Radio 3, 6 Music, BBC Sounds, BBC Two’s Winterwatch and the interactive BBC Sound Effects Archive.
Click here to go to the Soundscapes website.
To open up your creativity
See the Christian Arts Festival website for opportunities to take part in creative events.
Resources for children and young people
- TIC+ – counselling and anonymous 1-2-1 support for 9-21 year olds (via online chat or telephone), parent support, advice
- Exploring Mental Health & Wellbeing – 7 sessions for church youth groups – from The Children’s Society
- Covid-19 Support for households, parents and children from the Diocese of Gloucester website
Sources of help or advice
- The British Psychological Society – Supporting older people and people living with dementia during self-isolation
- Feeding the 5000 in Cheltenham – how to refer someone who is vulnerable or struggling to afford food.
A service for unpaid carers
The Gloucestershire Carers Hub service is designed so that ‘informal carers’ can access up to date information, advice and guidance, as well as emotional and practical support, as they care for loved ones during these uncertain times.
The council is keen for every carer to register with Gloucestershire Carers Hub so that they can benefit from the help offered. This includes adding carers on to the Carers Emergency Scheme, which builds on personal contingency planning and can mean that extra emergency support is available for them if it is needed. For example if a carer was unable to take care of their family or friend due to a change in their own health or personal circumstances.
A carer is defined as somebody, of any age, who provides support or who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of frailty, physical or mental illness, or disability.
Carers can contact Gloucestershire Carers Hub on Tel 0300 111 9000 or go online at www.gloucestershirecarershub.co.uk.
To give us a lift!
Online Library Services
You can log on to the Library on any computer using your Gloucestershire library card number. If you don’t have a library card, click here to join the library or update your details.
- Click here to download eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines
- You can also link to the Naxos Music library which has a huge range of classical, choral, opera, jazz and world music tracks.
Gloucestershire Libraries are now offering three new collection services for books, DVDs and other items. Click here to go to the Cheltenham Library webpage. All collections will be managed with social distancing.
Haven’t joined the library yet? It’s easy, free and all done online here. Free ebooks, audiobooks and online magazine titles also available which have proved very popular over the last few months. Find the online catalogue here.
PLUS take part in ‘A Life in Lockdown – in your words’ – the online project from Gloucestershire Libraries. Publishing online and collating the community’s personal stories, fiction poetry and 5-minute films about their lockdown experience.
iSingPop
Go to www.isingpop.org to find out more.