Sporting Memories take off at St Helen’s

The Swansea RFC Sporting Memories group had its maiden voyage on Monday (27th) and proved to be very popular and well attended.

The UK wide initiative run by the Sporting Memories Foundation is one thread of the Ospreys’ Community Foundation work, whose manager, our own Tom Sloane, was also in attendance for the opening session at St Helen’s.

The Sporting Memories groups are a vehicle to engage with people in the local community suffering from dementia, depression or loneliness and for their carers also. It enables them to avoid isolation and to engage with others and share memories and experiences of their own lives – sport being the main prompt in this case. 

Under the guidance of Helen John (Ospreys Health & Well Being Co-ordinator), an enthusiastic group of old time Swansea supporters enjoyed an introduction and welcome to St Helen’s from Club Chairman Stan Addicott before viewing a special themed display based on the career of Swansea and Wales forward George Hayward (Swansea RFC 1906-13).

   

The group chatted informally about their memories and as expected, the ‘All Whites’ were the main subject of conversation as well as rugby and sport in general. 

In a relaxed atmosphere, with tea, coffee and Welsh cakes to help us along, the group passed the latter half of the session in conversation about the contents of the display cabinets and the players and people that St Helen’s brought back to them. Finally, a game of Boccia (or indoor boules) saw the group divided into two teams and a surprising amount of competitiveness arise as the red’s snatched a late win.

We look forward to the next session, which is on MONDAY 10th FEB at St Helen’s (11am – 1pm) and hope to see many of the same faces and hopefully some new ones as well.

If you think you would enjoy this informal and friendly experience of know someone who would, please come and join in. If you’d like to find out more about the sessions, you can contact Helen John (Ospreys Health & Well Being Co-ordinator) at [email protected] A warm welcome is guaranteed. Disabled access is also in place. Come along and join in.

 

 

 

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