Hundreds of eco-friendly craft bags going out to older people and dementia sufferers to help to combat isolation

Williby Roc’s is a community interest company (CIC) based in Jarrow, which was set up to provide craft workshops and events, school sessions, green space community projects and parties from age three upwards.

The group – which sees ‘waste as a resource, not something that gets thrown away’ is creating 500 craft bags to support the mental health of older people in care homes or those suffering from dementia after they have endured months of isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In total, 250 kits will be given to residents at Roseway care home, in Jarrow and another 250 will be distributed to local residents in the South Tyneside community.

The idea behind the kits is to boost the morale of elerly residents who haven’t been able to see much of their family while also supporting those with dementia.

Williby Roc’s director Danielle Pollard said: “We are over the moon that we have a prominent role to play in bringing the local elderly community back together after such a devastating time and we will make sure that everything in the bags will not only be a useful tool for reconnection, but a pleasure and bring joy for those who receive them.

“The elderly have been hit the hardest through all of this and it is important that we can reach out to let them know that we are here and still care.”

Williby Roc’s eco group provides a number of eco-friendly community projects in South Tyneside, all with the aim of being environmentally friendly and improving the area's environmental impact.

The group says it aims to work with a “huge cross-section of the community, developing and delivering projects that are accessible, inclusive and community driven”.

Because it is set up as a CIC, profits from activities are put back into funding community projects.

Visit www.willibyrocs.co.uk to find out more about what’s available.

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