Every Tuesday morning, the doors open at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Brandon and the room slowly fills with conversation, laughter and the smell of fresh tea and coffee.
Some people arrive by taxi because getting out independently is no longer easy and public transport is no longer an option. Others walk in slowly with sticks or frames, greeted by volunteers who know them by name.
One member sits quietly reading a book borrowed from the club’s small community library. Nearby, a volunteer makes another round of tea, carefully topping up cups while checking everyone is alright. Across the room, someone shares the difficult reality of recovering from a recent stroke and learning to manage life with poor balance and reduced mobility.
Some members join every conversation. Others prefer simply to sit, observe and enjoy being around people.
At the SPA Tuesday Club, every person is welcomed exactly as they are.
Supported by a £6,000 Community Grant from Point North, the group provides older people in Brandon and the wider community with a safe, social and supportive space to stay connected to their community.
Supporting older people at risk of isolation in County Durham
The SPA Tuesday Club is run by Deerness Valley Methodist Church (DVMC), a volunteer-led charity that has supported local older people for more than a decade.
The weekly sessions were created for people who struggle to leave home, are experiencing loneliness or are at risk of becoming socially isolated. Many members live with long-term health conditions, mobility issues, anxiety or poor mental health. Some have lost confidence after illness or bereavement. Others simply spend much of their week alone.
The need for support is significant across County Durham.
Around 59% of residents live with a health condition lasting, or expected to last, 12 months or more. Older residents are also less likely to describe their physical health as good or very good, with only 46% of people aged 65 and over saying they feel positively about their physical health.
For many members, the Tuesday club offers structure, purpose and companionship that can otherwise be difficult to find.
How Point North funding is making a difference
Point North’s Community Grants Programme is helping the group continue to provide transport, activities, refreshments and a warm, welcoming environment for local older people.
The grant supports:
- Transport for members unable to travel independently
- Venue hire at St Andrew’s Methodist Church
- Weekly refreshments and monthly shared lunches
- Qualified instructors delivering seated exercise sessions
- Activities including indoor curling, boules and games that encourage gentle movement and social interaction
- Craft workshops that improve dexterity and confidence
- Guest speakers sharing advice and information to improve wellbeing
The sessions are designed to support both physical and mental wellbeing.
Gentle exercise helps improve flexibility, posture and mobility. Craft activities encourage concentration and confidence. Games bring energy, laughter and, occasionally, fierce competition.
Indoor curling, in particular, has become a firm favourite when exercise sessions are not taking place. But the biggest impact often comes from something much simpler: friendship.
“He talked about Tuesday all week”
Volunteers say the emotional impact of the group can be seen in the conversations, routines and relationships members build over time.
One family member told volunteers:
“He talked about nothing else. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday he talked about what he’d done on Tuesday. Then on Saturday, Sunday and Monday he talked about what he was going to do next Tuesday.”
Another volunteer recalls being approached at the funeral of a member who had been profoundly deaf.
“You will never know the impact for good you have had on Jonh’s* life over the last couple of years,” a family member told them.
Moments like these remind volunteers how important community spaces can be for older people who may otherwise feel forgotten or disconnected.
Place-based funding that strengthens communities
Point North supports grassroots organisations deeply rooted in the communities they serve across County Durham, Tees Valley and the wider North East.
Groups like the SPA Tuesday Club understand the realities facing local people because they are part of the community themselves. They know the barriers older residents face, from transport difficulties to declining health and loneliness.
During the pandemic, volunteers continued supporting members through phone calls and socially distanced visits whenever restrictions allowed.
Today, that same commitment continues every Tuesday morning in Brandon.
Through small acts of care, conversation and connection, the group is helping older people stay active, valued and part of community life.
Helping communities across County Durham
Every donation to Point North helps community groups like the SPA Tuesday Club continue their work.
It helps older people reconnect with others. It creates welcoming spaces where people feel safe and supported. And it strengthens the social ties that help communities across County Durham thrive.