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A Palmers Green institution that provides a vital community lifeline will be welcoming people into its building on 24th May, more than 14 months after the pandemic forced it to close its doors.

For more than 60 years the Ruth Winston Community Centre has been helping provide older people with physical, intellectual and, above all, social stimulation so that their lives become richer and more fulfilled. The list of activities open to members is huge: bridge, dancing, languages, computer skills, art, pilates, scrabble, yoga, table tennis, genealogy.... But above all, a welcoming place for people whose social world has been contracting, a place where you can eat a healthy lunch or enjoy tea and cakes and a chat.

Sixty years of activities at 190 Green Lanes were rudely interrupted last March, but Liz Thoree and her team have been able to run many activities via Zoom and keep in touch with members by phone - particularly important in the case of members who live alone. The building did open for some drop-ins for a while in the autumn, before lockdown was back.

The current phase of Covid precautions relaxations means that the Centre can open its doors again to members from 24th May. Hopefully, this time the re-opening will be permanent and activities will gradually return, though for the time being many will remain online.