Online links: exercise, mental health, art and culture
We've put together information about shopping and getting set up online, as well as links to help with your mental health and fun virtual workouts to keep you fit and active. You will also find links to online games, music, cultural activities and learning opportunities.
Technology - stay connected with friends and family
Click here to set up and use Skype
Click here to set up a Facebook account
Click here to set up a Twitter account
Click here to set up an Instagram account
Click here to set up a Zoom account
Click here on how to use a video call on your phone
Click here for useful tech tips from BT on everything from downloading a podcast to using WhatsApp and ordering an online prescription.
Click here for a collection of 400 user-friendly how-to guides from Digital Unite on everything from grasping computer basics to getting to grips with your smartphone or tablet.
Click here for free factsheets from Ability Net on how digital technologies can help people with disabilities.
Mental health and bereavement
Click here for the Help Hub, an online therapy service which is offering free 20-minute sessions aimed at vulnerable older people and others who are self-isolating or struggling.
SilverLine Health is offering online CBT therapy for people suffering from anxiety, stress and sleep problems. Click here to sign up
For a friendly chat, day or night, call Silver Line on 0800 470 80 90
Headspace - a tool which offers guided meditation to help deal with stress. Click here for more
Mind is a charity that helps people struggling with mental health issues. Click here for information and guidance on your wellbeing. Mind in Barnet IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) are offering counselling support. To find out more about this service, get in touch by calling 020 8343 5703 or emailing Counselling@Mindinbarnet.org.uk
If you are in a serious mental health crisis, please call the 24-hour Crisis Telephone Service (for people living in Barnet, Enfield & Haringey) on 0800 151 0023 or The Samaritans on 116 123
The Barnet Wellbeing Service website has a huge range of useful phone apps to help improve your mental health plus links to exercise and tips and food and diet. Click here for the links. To find out more call 03333 449088 or email: info@barnetwellbeing.or.uk
NCL Support After Suicide Service - Amparo supports people bereaved by suicide who live, work or study in Barnet. Find out more here.
Good Thinking is an online mental health programme for Londoners supporting people with mild-moderate mental health problems.
Government guidance has support for organisations assisting residents with mental health and wellbeing issues.
Exercise
Love to dance online dance classes for over 50s from the Saracens Foundation. For a Monday to Friday timetable click here. For further information, please email clarebellchambers@saracens.net
Click here for our outdoor social walks for over 55s in various parks across Barnet.
Let's Walk and Talk app - a walking programme for over 50s aiming to build confidence and resiliance - and all participats get together once a week on zoom. Click here to sign up.
One of our Tai Chi instructor's Dee has put her sessions online: Monday 2pm; Monday 4pm; Tuesday10 am; Tuesday 12 noon (Seated class); Thursday 10 am. For more information call Dee on 020 8445 6715 (Mob 078822816) or email her on cdee51@outlook.com. All classes are £5 per hour
Simple Home Exercises for Older People
Age uk/ simple exercises for older adults
How to exercise at home if you're avoiding the Gym during the covid 19 outbreak
NHS Aerobics video for beginners
NHS Belly dancing exercise video
NHS La Bomba dance exercise video
NHS Wake-up workout video beginner
NHS Pilates video for beginners
NHS Chair-based pilates video workout
NHS Back pain pilates video workout
NHS Knee problems pilates video workout
NHS Arthritis pilates video workout
NHS Osteoporosis pilates video workout
NHS MS and fibromyalgia pilates video workout
A big selection of free online workouts for older people for a wide range of abilities
Keep moving and dance video from Saracens Sports Foundation
Over 50s online ballet classes from Ballet Based Movement - click here for their YouTube workout.
Music, culture, art and learning
Pottery classes - the charity Maxability runs affordable and inclusive sessions for people with learning and physical disabilities as well as the general public. Based in Barnet, they also run classes online. Click here for more details.
Singing for lung health Join Starling Arts for a free weekly singing and mindfulness group for people living with lung conditions in Barnet. Experience the benefits of professionally-led physical and vocal exercises designed to support those with lung conditions to develop and sustain a healthy body and mind. Click here for more info and the sign up form.
Head Held High, which leads motivational and interactive activities for a variety of client groups, is now launching a new weekly Zoom club for older people who may be suffering from isolation, depression or simply wish to have fun. For more information, please email Sandra on sandra@headheldhigh.org.uk.
Our dementia activities coordinator Stacey highly recommends Arts 4 Dementia, an organisation that supports people with dementia and their carers through art, singing and dance. Click here to find out about their zoom activities
Rest Less - an online resource for leisure and lifestyle, learning, jobs, and money and pensions. Click here for the website.
BBC Music Memories - for people with dementia. Click here for the website which enables you to search and listen to music, theme tunes and a series of dementia friendly radio shows reflecting different eras and significant moments in recent history
Singing for better breathing - click here for useful instructional videos on YouTube.
Age UK Barnet and Barnet Connect are organising live music performances with some of our favourite musicians on our YouTube channel. Follow us on Facebook for the latest updates. Click on our YouTube channel for videos of our concerts.
Age UK Barnet's Seniors Choir on Zoom led by the brilliant Jenny La Touche every Tuesday (11am-12noon) on Zoom. Click here for more details and our other online activities.
The charity Golden Oldies has launched Goldies Live - an online singalong for older people that takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am on YouTube. Click here for more info.
Cirque de Soleil 60 minute special. Click here to view.
A helpful guide put together by music4dementia 2020 on how to use music during COVID. Click here for the guide.
Interactive live music activities on Facebook from Electric Umbrella - click here to find out more
An online creative space run by theatre company Chickenshed bringing people of different generations together - click here to find out more
National Trust art collections - click here to view.
The New York Met Opera is releasing a recording from their archives every day. Click here to view
Archive of public domain feature films, including many silent and film noir greats. Click here to view
The Open Library project - click here to view
Berlin Philharmonics' Digital Concert Hall - click here to view
Free online courses from The Open University - click here to view.
Online courses from top universities and institutions Click here for FutureLearn courses
Some books are now free on Audible - click here.
450 courses from Ivy League Universities - click here
Video tutorials on art, macrame, knitting and baking. Click here
Natasha and Pierre, King Lear with Anthony Hopkins and Much Ado About Nothing with Tennant and Catherine Tate. Click here
Live streams from Monterey Bay aquarium. Click here
Learn ancient languages click here
Virtual tours of museums around the world click here
Chatterpack - a list of online resources to keep people entertained when you are stuck at home click here
Recipes
Age UK Barnet is runnning online cookalongs on Zoom on a Thursday evening and Monday morning. Email karen.williamson@ageukbarnet.org.uk for more information. Age UK Barnet cookery demos will be added to our YouTube channel. Click here for the link.
BBC Food - For Budget dinners click here
BBC Goodfood - Five ingredients or less recipes click here
BBC Goodfood - Storecupboard Recipes click here
BBC Goodfood - Easy Recipes click here
BBC Goodfood - Healthy click here
Online games
Chess - click here for chess.com
Learn a language - click here for duolingo.com
Bridge -click here for bridgebase.com
Quizzes - fun quizzes on all kinds of subjects - click here for sporcle.com
Countdown - - click here for the popular TV quiz show game on happysoft.org.uk