(Image: Supplied)
Older people in County Durham are stepping back in time and onto the dancefloor as part of a project designed to tackle loneliness and improve wellbeing.
Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, in North West Durham, has launched monthly tea dances for people aged 65 and over, offering a chance to socialise and enjoy classic entertainment in the company of others.
The dances are part of Ushaw’s broader programme of creative activities aimed at promoting wellbeing, building confidence and encouraging social connections among older adults.
Charlotte Hutton, learning and engagement officer at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, said: "Older people can face a range of different challenges such as social isolation, adjusting to being retired or being recently bereaved, with the social contact that’s provided through our events really making a difference to their overall well-being.
"Taking part in events like this brings a whole range of different benefits, from improved physical and mental health and a stronger sense of purpose through to making new friendships and building the confidence to try other new activities that they might not previously have thought about."
Each dance, held in Ushaw’s refectory, welcomes around 40 attendees and is led by professional dance instructor Dianne Proudfoot, who guides participants through a selection of dance routines before they take to the floor together.
The events are supported by a £2,000 grant from the Banks Group’s Banks Community Fund, and a free shuttle bus service is provided for attendees living in nearby villages.
Ms Hutton said: "We also know that transport can be an issue for many older people, especially to a venue like ours that’s a little bit out of the way, so have introduced the shuttle bus service to make sure no-one misses out.
"The support we’ve had from Banks has been crucial in helping us make these tea dances happen and the positive impacts that they have will last for a long time into the future."
The tea dances follow the success of Ushaw’s Forget Me Notes dementia-friendly choir, held every Thursday morning and open to people of all singing abilities.
Ushaw is working in partnership with groups such as Age UK County Durham to extend the reach of the tea dance project and is considering running the sessions into the new year.
The August tea dance was fully booked.
Ms Hutton said: "Our August tea dance was a complete sell-out and it’s been wonderful to see how much everyone has been enjoying themselves as they’ve swept gracefully around the dancefloor."
Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, said: "This is a lovely project that brings people together from across local communities in a beautiful location and gives them the chance to learn new skills, spend some quality time together and make new friends."
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The tea dances are free to attend for residents of DH postcodes, as well as those living in DL13-17, but places are limited and must be booked in advance.
More information can be found at https://ushaw.org/whatson/tea-dance/.
Ms Hutton said: "Taking part in events like this brings a whole range of different benefits, from improved physical and mental health and a stronger sense of purpose through to making new friendships and building the confidence to try other new activities that they might not previously have thought about."
Further tea dances are scheduled for the first Wednesday afternoon of September, October and November.