Introducing the Virtual Village Hall - the free online activity hub and community

The Royal Voluntary Services launched the Virtual Village Hall, a free, online activity hub and community. It helps people stay mentally and physically active, socially connected and having fun, and supports people to better manage their health, including long-term conditions.

The Virtual Village Hall offers everything you might typically find at a local community centre or village hall, like exercise, dance and yoga classes, crafts, cooking, gardening, meditation, interesting speakers and musical performances - only virtually.

There are live activity sessions every weekday on the VVH YouTube channel and website, and an archive of more than 3,000 sessions to access any time. More than 20,000 people are using the Virtual Village Hall every month.

Who is it for?

The VVH is open to anyone. People that might find it particularly helpful are:

• Older people that are comfortable online and using social media.
• People that spend much of their time at home, perhaps because of a long-term health condition or disability, poor mental health, caring responsibilities, a lack of confidence to get out and about, or that experience social isolation, loneliness or cost-of-living challenges.
• People that are temporarily at home, for example, following a hospital operation, having a baby, or between jobs.

Health & Social Care professionals use it too to support patients, clients and residents. For instance, GPs, nurses and social prescribers, hospital and community health teams, activity coordinators in care homes, and those supporting people in social housing and supported living.

How is it helping?

In the latest annual user survey:

• 90% say the VVH has had a positive impact on their mood and emotional wellbeing
• 84% said it has had a positive impact on their physical health
• 62% said it has helped them feel less lonely/isolated.

Resources to share:

• Leaflet
• Impact infographic