WORCESTER’S first citizen was at the heart of the launch of a campaign to combat loneliness in the city’s care homes during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor of Worcester Coun Jo Hodges lavished praise on ‘The Wednesday Wave’ following its launch at Stanfield Care Home in Rushwick.
The brainchild of Arts Council England-funded Vamos Theatre, The Wednesday Wave aims to reach care home residents and anyone who feels isolated, connecting people through the simple act of waving.
For ten weeks until December 16, The Wednesday Wave will get the public connecting with residents in local care homes or isolated neighbours, by waving through windows from 3pm on Wednesdays.
More than 100 socially-distancing people – including students and parents from Rushwick Primary School and members of Vamos Central, a drama group for young people with mild to moderate learning disabilities – joined Coun Hodges for the launch.
Like all care home residents in the UK, contact with friends and loved ones for residents at Stanfield Care Home has been extremely limited since the start of lockdown in March.
“COVID has been challenging for all of us – but none more so than people living in care homes,” Coun Hodges said.
“They and their families need all the support we can give at this time. Waving is a gesture of warmth and support which is universal.”
Rachael Savage, Artistic Director of Vamos Theatre added: “We’re so happy we could be joined at The Wednesday Wave launch by the Mayor of Worcester, students from Rushwick Primary, and so many people who came to make a real difference.”
Visit www.vamostheatre.co.uk/the-wednesday-wave for more.
