NEW activity groups for people over 50 are starting next week in Okehampton.

The activity groups for the over 50s has been organised by the Time for Life service, which helps combat social isolation, alongside Castle Ham Lodge — the new extra care housing facility at the renovated old hospital on Castle Road, provided by the Guinness Trust.

The activity groups will range from art, exercise, a book club and a stroke club as well as others and all group meetings will take place at Castle Ham Lodge.

The Castle Ham Book Group will be the first to start, and will have its meeting on Monday February 14 at 2pm. The group will decide how often it wants to meet — monthly or more frequently — and at each of the meetings members of the group will choose a book to read over the next few weeks or so and then meet again to discuss it. There is a small cost of £1 for each meeting to cover refreshment costs.

There are also plans for the group to run a small library at Castle Ham Lodge in the near future.

The Oke Stroke Club is having its first meeting of a working group on Tuesday February 15 at 2pm. The aim of the club is to assist stroke sufferers and their carers.

The art club will meet each Wednesday between 2pm and 4pm starting on February 16. This group is for all abilities so if anyone has wanted to paint or draw, or have a hidden talent that they would like to share, they are invited to join this self-help group. Classes with a tutor may start soon.

There is a small cost of £1.50 which includes the cost of basic materials as well as refreshments.

On the third Wednesday of each month a quiz night will be held. The first quiz will be on February 16 at 7.30pm. There will be a small prize for the winning team. There is no need to come as part of a ready-made team, and no need to worry if you do not think you know much, just turn up and join in. It will cost £1.50 per person which includes all refreshments.

The social coffee morning, Oke-dokey, which has been running in a pub in the centre of Okehampton will now be moving to Castle Ham Lodge from February 17, still taking place every Thursday from 10.30am. It is an opportunity for people to exchange ideas of what they like to do. Cost £1 for coffee, tea and biscuits.

At noon each Thursday, starting on February 17, there will be a seated exercise session enabling people to do as much or as little as they feel comfortable with, even from a wheelchair, keeping muscles and joints moving for £2.

The group that has attracted the most interest is the sewing circle. This is for people wanting to get together to enjoy a variety of projects involving any sort of work with fabric and thread, possibly patchwork, embroidery, crochet or even rug making.

The sewing circle will meet every Thursday at 2pm to 4pm from February 17. There is a cost of £1.50 to include tea and coffee and some basic materials.

A games group is being started on February 18, taking place every Friday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm, for anyone who enjoys games such as Scrabble, cards, dominoes, or bingo. A cost of £1 to include tea and coffee.

Time for Life is asking for any donations of fabrics and yarn for the sewing circle or board games for the games group. Anyone who can donate, please drop them off at Castle Ham Lodge.

Further information available from the lodge on 01837 659900, or Ali at Time for Life, 01822 810897, [email protected]">[email protected]