Inverness community centre live streams singing classes as it is unable to open due to coronavirus restrictions
A busy Inverness community centre is using the internet to run singing classes and keep in contact with its users as it remains closed due to the coronavirus restrictions.
Merkinch Community Centre, which notches up about 62,000 visits a year, is home to a variety of organisations and activities ranging from a singing group for adults with learning disabilities to a lunch club.
Although activities have been suspended, development officer Elsie Normington and others are determined to keep in contact with as many of the centre users as possible.
"We have at least 250 customers," Mrs Normington said. "We have elderly and vulnerable people come along.
"So as a team we are telephoning them to see if they are okay and making sure they are getting what they need."
Mrs Normington also runs the Rainbow Singers whose members comprise adults with learning disabilities.
She is now live streaming classes for them via social media on Tuesday mornings and is also doing 30-minute sessions for the Singing For Pleasure group for older people on Tuesday evenings.
"It is going really well," she said. "People are loving it.
"We have about half of our members hooked up although there are still a lot of elderly people who are not online."
Mrs Normington has also been posting short filmed messages in a bid to inspire people and keep them connected.
To see her latest message go to: Merkinch Community Centre videos.
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