Staying healthy and connected during COVID-19

Updated Saturday 4th April 2020

Understanding why we need to stay at home

Laura from Land Group has made a helpful social story about why we need to stay at home. You can read it by clicking here.

Keeping in touch on Facebook

We have started a private Facebook group for members and staff to share what they’re up to. If you already have a Facebook account, click here and ask to join the group. If you don’t have a Facebook account and would like to have one, Amy from the media group has made this handy step-by-step guide to getting an account:

Garvald Radio is here!

We have started a community radio show that people can record messages for. All the episodes will be posted to garvaldedinburgh.org.uk/garvald-radio.

If there’s something you’d like to say (or sing) on the radio, please send a voice recording to rebeccachan@garvaldedinburgh.org.uk 

You can make a recording using a mobile phone. If you have an Android phone, you can download a free app called ASR Voice Recorder. If you have an iPhone, it already comes with an app called Voice Memos.

Art Club

Morven from the art workshop has started making videos that you can follow along with at home. The first one is all about self-portraits, and you can find it on the Garvald Artists Instagram by clicking here.

Orwell Arts Kitchen

If you’d like to keep up with your cooking skills, Gillian from the Orwell Arts kitchen will be posting recipes up to Instagram as well. You can find them by clicking here!

What I Do in a Day

We have also started a project called What I Do in a Day.

There are many talented writers, painters, photographers and musicians at Garvald. This is an invitation to use your talents to tell everyone what you’re doing with your days.

Maybe you want to write a song about your dog, draw a picture of something delicious you’ve cooked, or send us a video of a dance you’ve made up.

You can use any format you like, and send your submissions to amysawyers@garvaldedinburgh.org.uk

Sunshine on Leith

If you would like to be part of a music video, join in! Sara from the Drama workshop has made a video showing you how to sign along to Sunshine on Leith by the Proclaimers. If you’ve got someone who can film you while you sign, sing, or dance along to Sunshine on Leith, send your video in to rebeccachan@garvaldedinburgh.org.uk or upload it to the private Facebook group.

Resources from other organisations:

• • Edinburgh coronavirus support is a group of volunteers who are offering support and advice.

• • Thistle Foundation have shared a number of helpful resources on their website, including guided meditations, advice from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and an action calendar from Action for Happiness.

• • Age of Creativity have also gathered a huge amount of resources for people who want to enjoy the arts from home.

• • Anxiety UK have started posting a series of videos on how to cope with anxiety around Coronavirus and social distancing.

• • The Free Mindfulness Project, Rick Hanson and Mindful have all uploaded free mindfulness resources.

• • Gig Buddies have started a virtual festival called Coronavirus Fest! Visit the Facebook page to watch previous acts, check out upcoming performers, and enjoy musicians’ sets live when they broadcast each day.

• • Get2gether have started a Facebook group called Get2gether At Home. In their words, it’s a place for members to share fun ideas with each other while staying at home.

• • Dance Syndrome host online dance sessions.

• • Rock Choir do a live sing-along every day at 3pm. It’s a “feel-good, energising fun sing of a favourite well-known song either from the Rock Choir repertoire or as a request from anyone taking part!”

• • If you’re missing the arts, you can find free online performances at Shakespeare’s Globe, Cosmic Shambles, and the Metropolitan Opera.

• • If you want to explore a museum or gallery from the comfort of your own home, you can take a virtual tour at London’s National Gallery, Natural History Museum and National Museum. There are lots more to explore from around the world, just google ‘museum virtual tour’.

Thank you to everyone who sent in these resources.

We’ll keep this page updated with any news, so keep checking back.

Stay healthy and well!