A Social group for older adults 60+ who meet in Hartley Hall, most Tuesdays 10-2. Cost £3 per session.
The Diamond Club aims at reducing isolation and loneliness amongst older adults and promoting health and wellbeing through connecting and taking part in a wide range of activities designed to keep minds and bodies active.
The programme of activities include, Seated Zumba, a reading group, games, arts and crafts, health promotional workshops, Spiritual reflections, intergenerational projects with Holy Cross school, outings to the theatre and places of interest as well as trips to the seaside and short holidays.
Attendees are given information and advice about community initiatives as well as being signposted to areas of further support as required.
The group is Dementia friendly and provides projects such as “Holidays at home” designed to give those who are unable to get away a holiday like experience.
The group fundraises towards parish Charities as well as for events for the Diamond club and is financed from the parish, participants and through small grants such as the Catford Local Assembly and this year the COOP.
The Diamond club is supported by a dedicated enthusiastic team of Diamond Club friends and volunteers.
The group who have 60 regularly attendees is currently fully subscribed but holds many open events where everyone is welcome.
Where? The club meets in the Diamond Room at Hartley Hall
When? Tuesdays 10.00am – 2.00pm
Who can join? Anyone of 60 or over
For further information about any of the above ministries please contact Lesley Allen on 07729785843 or email: [email protected]
On Saturday the 11th January, 80 older adults, members of the Diamond club and those of our parish who are unable to get out much enjoyed a wonderful three course lunch,Tomato soup and home made bread, turkey and gammon and all the trimmings followed by pineapple upside down pudding, coffee and after dinner mints.The day commenced with a short New Years service and prayers led by Fr Anthony.The gathering enjoyed some wonderful entertainment from Ash and Tommy singing swing and the afternoon ended with a fabulous raffle.This day was hosted by the Diamond club who raised over £1000 through their many fundraising initiatives.The school kindly let us use their hall and the cooks and volunteer team were wonderful assisting people, driving them to the event and ensuring everyone had a fantastic day.
Happy New year from the Diamond club.
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Holycross Primary School and the Diamond's Club
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School was recently reviewed by Challenge Partners, an organisation that works with schools across the country. At this review the School explained about the close relationship we have with The Diamond Club and all the activities that the children and senior citizens enjoy together from reading, watching performances to afternoon tea and sports day! We were delighted when Challenge Partners accredited this as an 'Area of Excellence' for our School. This means that other schools will visit us to see what we do and to discuss how they could start to build something similar in their own setting. It gave us great delight to have something that we have known and cherished for many years now recognised by others as such a wonderful and valuable aspect of Parish life. The School and the Diamond Club both recognise that this intergenerational working is mutually beneficial and something to enjoy and feel proud of.
Diamond's Club at Sea
Holy Cross has been “bringing sunshine” to Catford this summer(2019) through a series of events for our parish and wider community.
The Diamond Club older members had a week at the Lake District, a day at Eastbourne and a trip to the theatre to see an old time music hall performance in Hornchurch.
“Bring me sunshine” has delivered 8 days for older people so far this year, an Easter tea party, a wonderful Italian day where Hartley Hall was transformed into a Italian restaurant with entertainment and food provided by our wonderful Finaldi family followed by six days on board the “good ship sunshine” where over 90 older people each day attended a themed day of culture, food and entertainment. Our virtual cruise took us to Spain, Greece, America, India , Egypt and Scandinavia without even leaving Catford.
So many highlights, Spanish dancing,Fr Anthony’s Dahl curry and singing, Zorba the Greek, our very own Statue of Liberty, dancing on the upper deck, a visit from Carmela the camel on Egyptian day, IKEA meat balls, ABBA sing a longs and so many people smiling, and having fun and most importantly connecting with others.
All of this was possible due to a wonderful generous committed team of sunshine volunteers from each of the three churches, St Andrews, Brownhill Baptist church and of course Holy Cross who had received a public health grant to provide the days.
We have four more days still to come, the next being at Brownhill Baptist church on the 12 th October where our virtual cruise ship will visit the Caribbean.
As well as days for older people a new initiative bringing “holidays at home” for families meant that over 90 adults and children enjoyed four supported family fun days, two provided arts and craft, music and movement including Tai chi, cooking workshops and massage and manicures for parents. 49 people travelled by coach to Joss bay for a day on the beach which was wonderful, the sun shone and lots of people swam in the sea and played in the sand, our parish Quadruples enjoyed their first ever day at the seaside and big brother celebrated his birthday surrounded by family and friends on the beach. The final quieter day was held at Mountsfield Park and again we were blessed with glorious sunshine.
As Fr Anthony said one of the families who
attended said it was “the best holiday they’d had”.
Again you Holy cross parish gave generously and provided plenty of drinks and snacks and crafts and several members of TTT and SVP gave of their time and talents to support the days.
The TTT group that is held on the third Thursday of the month to support mental health and wellbeing also enjoyed a summer gathering marked with a fun filled Morris dancing workshop.
Over 300 people have taken part in Holy Cross summer activities and we are indeed blessed as a parish to have been able to bring some sunshine to the lives of our Parish and wider community.
The Diamond Club older members had a week at the Lake District, a day at Eastbourne and a trip to the theatre to see an old time music hall performance in Hornchurch.
“Bring me sunshine” has delivered 8 days for older people so far this year, an Easter tea party, a wonderful Italian day where Hartley Hall was transformed into a Italian restaurant with entertainment and food provided by our wonderful Finaldi family followed by six days on board the “good ship sunshine” where over 90 older people each day attended a themed day of culture, food and entertainment. Our virtual cruise took us to Spain, Greece, America, India , Egypt and Scandinavia without even leaving Catford.
So many highlights, Spanish dancing,Fr Anthony’s Dahl curry and singing, Zorba the Greek, our very own Statue of Liberty, dancing on the upper deck, a visit from Carmela the camel on Egyptian day, IKEA meat balls, ABBA sing a longs and so many people smiling, and having fun and most importantly connecting with others.
All of this was possible due to a wonderful generous committed team of sunshine volunteers from each of the three churches, St Andrews, Brownhill Baptist church and of course Holy Cross who had received a public health grant to provide the days.
We have four more days still to come, the next being at Brownhill Baptist church on the 12 th October where our virtual cruise ship will visit the Caribbean.
As well as days for older people a new initiative bringing “holidays at home” for families meant that over 90 adults and children enjoyed four supported family fun days, two provided arts and craft, music and movement including Tai chi, cooking workshops and massage and manicures for parents. 49 people travelled by coach to Joss bay for a day on the beach which was wonderful, the sun shone and lots of people swam in the sea and played in the sand, our parish Quadruples enjoyed their first ever day at the seaside and big brother celebrated his birthday surrounded by family and friends on the beach. The final quieter day was held at Mountsfield Park and again we were blessed with glorious sunshine.
As Fr Anthony said one of the families who
attended said it was “the best holiday they’d had”.
Again you Holy cross parish gave generously and provided plenty of drinks and snacks and crafts and several members of TTT and SVP gave of their time and talents to support the days.
The TTT group that is held on the third Thursday of the month to support mental health and wellbeing also enjoyed a summer gathering marked with a fun filled Morris dancing workshop.
Over 300 people have taken part in Holy Cross summer activities and we are indeed blessed as a parish to have been able to bring some sunshine to the lives of our Parish and wider community.