Spotlight on: Immanuel Church, Bournemouth

When I arrive at Immanuel Church, I’m greeted by a pearly queen sitting in the sunshine enjoying a cup of tea. The pearly queen is in fact Louise, 77, a former primary school teacher and the leader of the Music Hall Singalong session I’m about to take part in. An amateur actress in days gone by, Louise loves to dress up to fit the session’s theme – last time, for the roaring 20s, she wore a glamorous flapper dress with long earrings and a feather headdress. “I like to act the part, plus it advertises that there’s something going on, otherwise why would a strange lady be walking round in a costume?” she says.

The group of a dozen or so ladies gathers in a small lounge. Song sheets in hand, we glide our way from one tune to the next accompanied by tinkling piano music from a portable CD player. The selection includes the likes of ‘She’s a Lassie From Lancashire’ and ‘Any Old Iron’. Louise keeps everyone in time, crossing the room occasionally to sit next to a lady who is new.

Afterwards, Louise explains why she’s so passionate about the group. “We don’t want to forget these things – it’s part of our culture, our history. Also, it keeps your brain working and it’s good company. Afterwards, I’ll often go and sit with the ladies for lunch and listen to their stories. They have such amazing tales to tell – there’s so much wisdom there, and they are often very funny.”

This morning’s singing session is just one of the many activities on offer at Immanuel Church, but there wasn’t always such a full programme. In 2011 a new minister, Rev Peter Southcombe, arrived with a heart for serving older people in the area. The following year, Sally Nevitt was employed as an outreach worker with Pramacare, an organisation providing domiciliary care. Through this role, she was linked to Immanuel Church who eventually took her on as member of their staff team where today she serves as Chaplain to Older People.

“I was brought in to start a whole raft of activities for older people,” says Sally. “The aim was that there would be something every day of the week for people to come along to, with a special emphasis on activities for people with dementia.”

As well as the Music Hall Singalong, among the other activities run by the church are Memory Lane, a reminiscence group for those with dementia and their carers, dementia-friendly singing session Songs for the Mind, a Friendship Club, a Bible study group, a dementia-friendly Midweek Communion Service and a Friday Film Club. The church also welcomes in outside groups including Love to Move, an exercise class for older people, and Men’s Shed.

For Sally, being able to serve older people is an absolute joy. “There’s an awful lot of lonely people out there, and loneliness isn’t just damaging to mental health. One study found that it can be as damaging to your physical health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Here, we have an opportunity to do something about that.”

When it comes to spiritual matters, Sally and others from the church take a gentle approach, meeting people where they are at.

“I moved to the area three or four years ago and I didn’t know anyone. I’d heard about the church and dropped in to see what was happening. I used to work in a day centre supporting people with dementia and I’m appalled that so many of the day centres in Bournemouth have closed. There is such a need. The Memory Lane group was short of helpers and so I decided to volunteer. The key thing is to find out what interests people. The other week we explored poetry, which many people remember from their school days. Everyone was able to contribute something. As a volunteer, I’ve made new connections and I really feel part of the community. When I’m out and about I often see people I know.”

“We all need social contact and it’s so much better that people can come here and be with others rather than sitting by themselves at home. Later life can bring some big challenges and people can feel like they are on their own. Here, they can find others in a similar situation. We don’t pry, but if someone wants to talk we’re here to be a listening ear and we’ll offer to pray with them. Some people have lost most of their family and have got nobody and they come here and find a new family, in a way. It’s lovely.”

Of course, there are also those who have had to slow down, whether that be due to ill health or circumstances. Simply coming and being a part of things is fine and prayerful support from afar is also cherished.

“I have some fierce prayer warriors. There is one lady who is 95 who can’t come anymore but she’s always asking me what she can be praying for, she’s such an encouragement,” says Sally.

As Sally acknowledges, not every church is in a position to do so much for older people. She suggests picking one thing – a coffee morning, perhaps, or simply inviting an older person back for lunch after church. “In Isaiah 46, God promises that He will carry and sustain us to the end of our days,” she says. “Older people are such a blessing and I believe that as a church it’s our responsibility to ensure they are included.”

“It gets you out and meeting people, otherwise you can get a bit lazy and just stay at home.” Pat, 79

“There are lots of nice people. Music has always been a big part of my life as I used to do a lot of ballroom dancing.” Lynne, 73

“I love all kinds of music – everything from classics from the 50s and 60s like we’ve heard today to modern rap music.” Barbara, 76

To find out more, visit www.immanuelsouthbourne.org

In a container next to the Men’s Shed two trishaws are stored. These are used by volunteers for the movement Cycling Without Age which involves taking older people out on rides around the local area. Vaughan, 72, a volunteer trishaw pilot explains, “We’ll take people from local care homes out along the front to local beauty spot Hengistbury Head. It’s all about enabling them to feel the wind in their hair and bringing back the memories.