Huddle haven at Royd Court

When Gwynneth moved to Royd Court just over two years ago, she, like many new residents, was adjusting to a new chapter of life. Even though she has family living nearby, she felt lonely at times. A lifelong nurse, she had always been attentive to others’ needs, but finding community proved harder than expected. That changed when she and another resident, Beth, began taking their knitting and crocheting down to the lounge simply to avoid sitting alone in their flats.

They chatted as they worked, enjoying each other’s company—until something lovely began to happen. People walking through the main corridor started stopping to say ‘hello’, then asking if they might join. Before long, those informal moments of companionship became a regular gathering.

“Someone said, ‘Let’s call it the huddle,’” Gwynneth recalls with a smile. “And it stuck.”

Today, the huddle meets three times a week on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, and attendance can range from four to 18 residents. It is intentionally simple. The group avoids politics and even small talk about the weather whenever possible. The focus is on conversation, company and the gentle rhythm of hands busy with yarn or crosswords.

The group is open to everyone, both women and men. One gentleman, who can neither see nor hear well, comes faithfully because he simply loves being part of the atmosphere.

What began as a casual social space has become a quiet source of care. “We do support each other a lot,” Gwynneth says. Grief, family worries and the heavier moments in life are shared freely. When one member recently lost her husband, the huddle became a place of comfort.

“We have got to know each other so well because of the group,” she says.

The huddle has also given Gwynneth and others that live in the home, cherished new friendships. Only a few weeks after Gwynneth moved in, a neighbour teased her in the corridor by saying, “You are too observant for your own good.” The gentle humour sparked a lasting bond. Her nursing instincts, which help her notice when someone is not quite themselves, have helped knit the group together.

For many at Royd Court, the huddle is more than a meeting. It is a lifeline of community, warmth and mutual care. What began as two women sitting with yarn has grown into a small but powerful expression of fellowship that helps turn a housing scheme into a home.