At our day centre in Gateshead, we have created a warm and welcoming space for residents over 65 to come together, enjoy a nutritious and freshly cooked two course meal, and access range of fun and wellbeing-enhancing activities! It's a great day out, from mid morning to mid afternoon, at our lunch clubs and men's groups to connect with other local people, and stay active. One enjoyable pastime is browsing through our local history books and photographs where our friends c

Easter is a great time to get together, and our lunch clubs and men's groups are a perfect setting for creative Easter crafts. We've been making colourful Easter baskets and decorating paper egg cut outs, and when paired with a lovely two course lunch, and transport from home and back again, it makes for a perfect day out this Springtime. The Benefits of Easter Crafts in Group Settings Crafting in a group setting offers many benefits, especially for older people. It's great

At our lunch club last week, we had plenty of singing and dancing along to our favourite songs. Everyone joined in with tapping feet, clapping hands, and having a good laugh. Music is an important part of our day here at the TBCC lunch clubs from our music quizzes, through to our celebration days. It doesn’t matter if we hit every note perfectly as long as we're having fun. Singing together, with a sway in our chairs to the beat or getting up on our feet for a dance, there

This week has marked an exciting new chapter for everyone at Teams and Bensham Community Care as we moved into our new home at Holy Rosary Parish House. After a great deal of planning and preparation, it has been wonderful to finally open the doors and welcome people into our new space. From the moment we arrived, there has been a real sense of warmth and enthusiasm. Staff, volunteers, and members of our community have all played a part in helping us settle in, and it has al

If you’re finding it difficult to meet new people or to find somewhere friendly to go for a few hours, you’re definitely not alone. Research shows that older people who live alone are more likely to feel lonely and disconnected from their community. You might have less regular contact with friends and family members, or you might just miss having company at mealtimes. Teams and Bensham Community Care , a charity in Gateshead, has years of experience designing and running soci

After many wonderful years at our Bolam Street communal lounge, it was time to say goodbye. It's a space which has seen so much friendship, laughter, and countless cups of tea! It's where our lunch clubs gathered each week, and where our popular men's group was born. So many lasting connections and memories have been made here. Saying Goodbye to Our Bolam Street Day Centre Bolam Street has served us well. But it's time to make way for the demolition that is taking place whe

Today at our Men’s Group in Gateshead we had a fantastic time playing a range of games, with the support of our wonderful volunteer, Linda. Volunteer Linda at our Men's Groups Our Men's Groups include a freshly cooked, two-course meal, refreshments, a range of activities, and an opportunity to chat, relax with the paper and try our popular quiz! We have transport from home and back again from addresses in Teams, Bensham, Dunston, Lobley Hill, Saltwell and Central Gateshead,

Friendship groups and day centre for older people in Gateshead

Our lunch clubs and men’s group are full of fun, friendship, and activities that bring people together. From bingo and dominoes to crafts and tabletop curling, these sessions help older people stay active, connected, and uplifted proving that laughter and good company are some of the best ingredients for wellbeing.

It’s an exciting time for our team and volunteers as work continues on the refurbishment of Holy Rosary. The transformation is well underway, and we’re thrilled to share an update on how things are progressing behind the scenes. Our New Venue at Holy Rosary Parish House For 35 years, Teams and Bensham Community Care has been a lifeline for older adults in the area, hosting lunch clubs , men's groups , and a variety of social activities designed to combat isolation, promote we

We had such a good laugh at our Friday Lunch Club Christmas party! One of the many highlights was our festive bottle-rolling game, which brought out everyone’s competitive side (in the best way!). The aim was simple. Roll the bottle down the long table and land it in just the right spot to win a festive goody bag. Too much momentum and it went flying past the mark; too little and it didn’t make it far enough. It was brilliant to see everyone concentrating hard, cheering each

For years, our charity has been delivering freshly cooked, two-course hot meals to older residents across the community in Teams, Bensham, Saltwell, Lobley Hill, Whickham, Central Gateshead and Meadowcroft Mews. Each delivery is made by our caring local drivers, who take the time to check in and make sure everything’s okay. It’s more than a meal, it's really beneficial for wellbeing as well as nutrition.

What a lovely day we had at our Friday Lunch Club Christmas party last week! The room was full of Christmas spirit as everyone came together to enjoy a special Christmas meal and what a treat it was! The live entertainment kept everyone smiling all afternoon. From festive games to singing along with the music, there was plenty to join in with and enjoy. It was wonderful to see everyone having such a good time. These parties are always a reminder of what makes our Lunch Clubs

If you're considering volunteering as a way to enhance your career prospects, to improve your wellbeing, or to give something back to the local community, our blog gives you all the information you need to know what it's really like to volunteer with at our lunch clubs and/or men's groups in Gateshead.

Home assessments are a key part of the process here at Teams and Bensham Community Care, for all new lunch club and men’s group...

If you or someone you know wants to join a group in Gateshead, you aren't alone in wondering if it'll be the right fit, or what activities are available. Our blog removes the uncertainty by providing an overview of a typical day at the Teams and Bensham Community Care men's group, so you to know what to expect from beginning to end.

If you or someone you know wants to join a group in Gateshead, you aren't alone in wondering if it'll be the right fit, or what activities are available. Our blog helps take away the guess work by giving you a run down of a typical day at the Teams and Bensham Community Care lunch club, so you know what to expect from start to finish.

Loneliness is a significant issue that affects many men, particularly those who are bereaved, or living alone. Fortunately, in...

Mental health concerns affect many older people, particularly those who are bereaved, experience ill health and/or isolation. Sometimes, there is no cause, and we feel low or anxious for no obvious reason. Fortunately, in Gateshead, there are community groups and organisations, such as Teams and Bensham Community Care that assist in helping people find comfort and companionship during times when their mental health is not where they’d like it to be.

Over two years ago, our charity applied to be one of small charities across the UK to receive funding support from Global's Make Some Noise. Thanks to the incredible generosity of listeners across Global’s radio brands - Capital, Heart, LBC, Classic FM, Smooth, Radio X, Capital XTRA and Gold - Make Some Noise has raised millions of pounds for good causes. The priority for Make Some Noise for 2022 was to bring people together to improve wellbeing and mental health. As soon a