Tackling Loneliness, one dance at a time.

Timebank South West has celebrated a significant success in 2024, having effectively organized and hosted eight ‘Time for Tea’ dances across various locations within Plymouth.

This initiative stemmed from the formation of the Age Positive Plymouth Project, a collaborative effort between Timebank South West, Improving Lives Plymouth, and The Wolseley Trust. Through deeper exploration and engagement with the community, a key challenge emerged: individuals over the age of 65 often experience feelings of loneliness and isolation, particularly during weekends, with Sundays being identified as a particularly difficult time.

Recognising this significant need, the partner organisations came together to brainstorm potential solutions. A range of ideas were proposed and carefully considered, and the concept of “Time for Tea” dances resonated strongly as a promising approach to combat social isolation and foster a sense of community. With a shared vision and enthusiasm, the team meticulously planned and prepared for the first Time for Tea dance event, marking the beginning of what would become a series of engaging and much-appreciated social gatherings. They saw that people needed a way to be able to get out to meet people in a fun environment. The format for these events was simple: tea, cakes and dancing in a social setting. The project was geared towards making the events enjoyable and accessible for everyone. Something which we are very proud to say we achieved.

Timebank South West extends its sincere gratitude to W.G Edwards Charitable Foundation for supporting our vision and providing funding for the Time for Tea events. The financial resources we received allowed us to bring together community members from Southway, Estover, St Budeaux, Whitleigh, Plymstock, and the City Centre to enjoy a pleasant Sunday afternoon in each other’s company.

While attendance varied at different venues, our ultimate goal of creating new friendships and breaking down barriers between strangers was achieved at every location.

It was a delightful surprise to witness one of our timebank members strike up a conversation with a new attendee, leading to them leaving together to grab a drink at the nearby pub. It’s moments like these that truly make our events memorable.

At one of our dances in Southway we were joined by a gent who had been undergoing treatment for throat cancer was talking to our singer about how much he enjoyed singing but had been unable to do so due to his recuperation. He was able to sing one soft song for everyone with a little help from friends, and it brightened his day.

The Whitleigh Time for Tea event demonstrated the importance of our volunteers. Even though our host and live singer had a terrible accident the morning of the event and had to stay in the hospital, we didn’t have to cancel. Together, our committed volunteers produced an event to be proud of. The participants had a wonderful afternoon and relished a Time for Tea that was as well-planned as any.

In almost all of our venues, we were fortunate to have the dedicated help and support of the staff—many of whom were volunteering their time—alongside our wonderful volunteers from Timebank South West. Without this remarkable commitment, our Tea Dances simply wouldn’t be possible. We are truly grateful for every individual and every hour they share, helping to make our Time for Tea events memorable for everyone who attends.

We have had over 160 people attend our dances so far.  Some of these people have been to a number of dances which really reflects how much they are enjoyed, appreciated and required for those on their own at the weekends.