Local home care provider Walfinch Newcastle East is bringing free community activities to anyone in its area in 2026.

“We are starting our Thrive Club, which will be offering free mobility, craft and social activities to anyone,” says Idris Nasar, owner of North Shields-based Walfinch Newcastle East. 

The sessions start on Tuesday February 10, at the Preston Grange Community Centre, in North Shields  from 11am to 12.30pm, repeated on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. “There's no need to be a member and there are no fees – just turn up and join us,” says Idris.

Seated exercise, crafts, games and chat

Thrive Club will offer 45-minute seated exercise and craft activity sessions, followed by table games, coffee, and socialising, every second Tuesday of the month. The chair exercises will be led by a local physiotherapist. It's open to anyone, and attendees can bring along their relatives and carers.

“We tried a pilot crafts session before Christmas, and people soon started talking to each other. We've had calls asking the date of the next one,” says Idris.

Paige Stokes, who is the lead carer in arranging the Thrive Club classes, says: “Thrive Clubs are a great way to support older adults in our local community, and I'm delighted to be involved in encouraging people to take part in these free sessions.”

Idris, Paige and other members of the Walfinch care team will be there to answer questions about social care, and health information will be available, especially about osteoporosis, as Walfinch is a supporter of the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS), which recommends regular exercise to maintain optimal bone health.

Walfinch is also encouraging everyone to take The Great British Bone Check, an online tool created by ROS, which that allows you to check your osteoporosis risk in just three minutes.

Local demand

Idris says: “We met some local NHS Social Prescribers to talk about the Thrive Club, and they were all particularly enthusiastic. A local NHS Occupational Therapist was also very keen to learn more, and has said she will come along to the club.

“At Walfinch we aim to not just help our care clients to survive, but to thrive, by improving their physical health and general wellbeing.  Anyone who books an hour or more of care is offered at least ten minutes of activity, which can be anything from gardening, joining in with their carer to do home exercise videos made by Walfinch Chief Executive Amrit Dhaliwal, or getting out to local social venues.

“The Thrive Club will take our drive to improve lives out into the community and will benefit local people as well as getting the Walfinch name more widely known among local people, plus health and care professionals. Everyone benefits.”