‘It’s so lovely to be back’
AFTER the loneliness of lockdown, older islanders were thankful to return to the Jubilee Day Centre this week.
The St Sampson’s centre, which gives users the chance to socialise, has been closed for two months, although the centre’s team have been working hard to keep in touch with members.
Day centre manager Josie Breton said it can accommodate up to 24 people – 15 attended on the first day.
She said there was still some caution, but she expected it to get very busy again once centre users understood it was safe.
‘It’s been lovely here today,’ she said.
‘We can hear everyone chatting. They’ve all been really excited to see each other again.’
The centre includes a hairdressers, which was very busy.
During the lockdown the centre would call up users to keep in touch and also put together a weekly newsletter featuring puzzles and activities.
‘It is very important they interact with people,’ Mrs Breton said.
‘Many of the clients have been extremely lonely.’
Dolly Rowsell, 92, has been going to the centre for 20 years.
She celebrated going back with a glass of sherry.
‘I love it here,’ she said.
‘Everyone is so friendly. It’s so lovely to be back.’
She has been supported during lockdown by her grandson, but she was able only to wave to him through the window of her flat.
She said she was really looking forward to seeing him up close.
‘It was lonely during lockdown,’ she said.
‘The last time I was here was the end of January.’
She was catching up with her friend Laura White, 89. Mrs White said it had been a hard lockdown.
‘I live on my own,’ she said.
‘My daughter has been coming up and doing my shopping and we would have a chat at the door.
‘I was getting fed up with lockdown towards the end.
‘It is always nice to see everyone back here.’
