​Here at Holloway Neighbourhood Group, we are interested in the links between physical and mental health. Many of our service users said that they would like to participate in Pilates, so we decided to run some pilot classes. We encouraged people who experience mental health issues to give it a go, and overall 33 people attended. We asked participants to complete questionnaires at the beginning and end of the 6 week course, and the results were fascinating.

75% of participants recorded a decrease in their anxiety levels, 79% said that the class improved their mobility, and 64% said that they felt happier. One attendee commented that the class was “Very strengthening, centering and therapeutic”.

The results were so impressive that The Arsenal Foundation have kindly agreed to support our classes for the next year. They take place on Mondays, 1.30 to 2.30 pm at the Old Fire Station, and are free of charge. The class is suitable for people of all abilities, and you don’t need to book ahead.

So, come on down to our friendly community centre to join a class that is proven to help with stress and anxiety, and to generally lift your mood.
​
Lucy Bingham, HNG Chief Executive

Great to have had the Almeida here at the Old Fire Station talking to our senior ladies about they experiences as mothers and daughters. And lovely to have them here again today giving the ladies an update about the new play they are writing as a result.

We are also really looking forwards to our visit to see the play being performed!

If you have never thought of drawing a portrait as a way of getting to know someone better, come along and give it a go!.

​You can pop in for a while or stay for the whole time. It's up to you. Why not bring a friend and draw each other?

Thank you for supporting our work! 

We want to give a shout out to your fabulous volunteers at your 'Second Chance' charity shop too!

Presenting Yoga you can stay in a chair for!
Another amazing seated Yoga class from our partners North London Cares

"I was very sceptical the first time, but i thought I would give it a go. It was perfect. Just right for someone like me' Hannah

Don't miss it!

Saturday 8th July 2:00pm - 3:30pm.

Enjoy a lovely free lunch when you accompany someone you care for to our Super Seniors Lunch Club on Wednesdays at 1pm during June and July.

The person you care for can register you for a free lunch when you come along with them but please call the day before to let us know you want to come! First come first served so book early to avoid disappointment!

Get in the mood for spring with our new Wednesday morning exercise classes.

Women come and try our women only Zumba class with Sue on Wednesday Mornings 9:15 - 10:00 - we put up screens so it's lovely and private too!

We also have new exercise fun for the more mature gentlemen and ladies at 10:30am - 11:30am. Come and wiggle your tail feathers with exercise to music with Tina!

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Neil, who died suddenly on 26th February 2016.

Neil has been a great friend to Holloway Neighbourhood Group since July 2014 when he first got in touch to hire space to run photography classes. Whilst looking into ways to reduce his costs, he broached a deal to offer us his valuable consultative support in exchange for desk and photography space at the Old Fire Station. We gladly and gratefully accepted as he had all the skills that we were sadly missing! He has also kindly worked with us in very practical ways - designing our websites, taking photos where he felt he could improve on what we had already, writing a blog and even taking on special events such as being our photographer of the day at our Halloween Fair. He would turn his hand to anything whilst in the Old Fire Station, including helping visitors at reception and fixing and installing things.

He was generous with his knowledge and expertise, sensitive to others, a patient teacher and a thoughtful and supportive colleague. He will be missed by us all but particularly by the reception team where he would regularly stop by and help us to sort out the world or bounce ideas to and fro over a cup of tea and a hot sausage roll.

Thanks for all the hours of time you gave to us ... and for just being you - the best gift of all!

​

Well it's great to be back at work at the Old Fire Station, wishing all our visitors a Happy New Year and hearing how everyone has spent their Christmas. A few people seem to have resolved to do more exercise following the festivities - I wonder why?? 

Talking about hearing from people we have a great new survey. If you are over 55 we want to hear from you! We especially want to hear from people who are 75 and older too. So please tell your older friends and relatives all about it.

If you are 55 or older please click on the link below to take our survey and thank-you!

Take survey

Amongst all our lovely Christmas cards we received a sparkly one from filmmaker Sue Bourne with flyers for her film the Age of Loneliness which will be showing on BBC1 in the New Year. Some of the filming took place at our very own ladies gentle exercise class, so you might catch a glimpse of the Old Fire Station if you watch very closely! We are hoping that everyone will give this film lots of support by switching on at 10:35 pm on Thursday January 7th. 

​We're starting to get that Festive Feeling here at the Old Fire Station. We haven't quite got the lights and decorations out - but only because they're stored in a high cupboard and we need a long ladder and a head for heights to to bring them down!

We are in the middle of planning our annual Elders Christmas Lunch for 15th December, with a traditional turkey dinner on the menu. Our brilliant volunteers are once again beavering away on the menu and shopping, baking and christmas card making, and gathering donations for hampers and other prizes for our great Xmas raffle.

It's always a fun event so come along if you're 55 or over and tell your friends! 

Tickets are £4.50 and available at the Old Fire Station reception desk.

Don't miss our Elders Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 15th December 1:00 pm!!

A huge thank you to everyone who made our Halloween Fair and Jumble such a huge success. Please go to our Events page to see more photos.

Hi everyone,
Just a few days to go before our fund raising event this Saturday 31st October at 10:30am - 3:30pm.
Come and grab a spooky bargain !
There will be children's activities,  a jumble, bric-a-brac, tombola, a raffle and refreshments available. Tea, coffee and cakes. What's not to like !
Please help us by donating or volunteering or just come along & enjoy yourselves. It's FREE !

The Old Fire Station
84 Mayton Street
London N7 6QT
020 7607 9794

Please drop any donations into the reception between 10.30 and 4.30 this week. Thanks !

Hi everyone,

We are delighted to announce the new Holloway Neighbourhood Group website is now online.
As before, there is lots of useful information about HNG and all the events, classes and activities we run.

Please check it out and let us know what you think. There are still a few things to tweak so be gentle with us ! We hope to hear from you soon.

Remember that the Stress Project also has its own website at www.stressproject.org.uk with loads of info about all the therapies available.

Lucy