Lockdown brings with it all sorts of challenges and changes to everyday life, but none are more affected than our elderly relatives.

Being confined to our houses to stop the spread of Coronavirus has left vulnerable people, who may be suffering with dementia or depression, socially isolated.

One organisation working to change that is Sporting Memories Wales, a group helping people over the age of 50 make new connections through sport, exercise, and nostalgia.

Project manager Nikki Foster revealed that there were plans for three Sporting Memories clubs in the Vale, one in Barry, but these were suspended when the first lockdown came into effect.

"I was recruiting volunteers for the Barry club and just as they were about to attend their final training session, the first lockdown hit," said Nikki.

"We made the decision to suspend our clubs, and we didn't know how long it was going to be for at that point. It wasn't safe considering the age range of people we work with unfortunately.

"But we regathered as an organisation and put together these online clubs," she said.

A club session under normal circumstances could include visiting sports stadiums, sports clubs, care-centres, community centres and libraries, using archive images of sport, memorabilia and news reports to trigger fond memories of playing or watching sport.

As well as reminiscing about sport and allowing group members to tell their stories through sporting memories, the clubs include exercise and the playing of accessible sports to increase physical activity levels.

The Vale club has been running online for one month, led by volunteers.

"Anyone living within the Vale can join our club, and then once we're up and running in person again we can let them know where their nearest community club will be," said Nikki.

"It's a way to continue to connect with people and give them a taster of what we're all about. Hopefully those people will join us in our community clubs when we re-open next year

"We didn't want to leave it for months, we wanted to continue supporting people through this and help create some new friendships for people."

Sporting Memories sends out how-to guides for getting online and using Zoom, and also give one-to-one phone calls to people before their first club meeting, instructing them how to get online and use the website or app on whatever device they may have.

The volunteers also support people through using the video calling service.

"We focus on helping those people that are socially isolated and aren't connecting with people otherwise," said Nikki.

"It helps build their confidence, for some people it's the first time they've used a platform like it. It can be very empowering.

"The benefit we've seen is that not only are they using the technology for our group, but they're off having video calls with their families and other groups.

"That's exactly what we want to achieve. If we can be the stepping stone to getting people online and creating more social connections that's great," she said.

Using sport as the common interest to connect like-minded people has developed real friendships across the community.

"People talk about their own areas, so they might connect over a football game they attended where someone else lives and it turns out they've all gone to the same matches previously. It connects everyone across the community," said Nikki.

"We do end up going off into other conversations but sport is there as the vehicle to create connections and build friendships.

"From that we also have an online publication that members can subscribe to, with written pieces about sport, ideas for physical activity at home and a quiz."

For those who cannot, or are not interested in getting online, Sporting Memories Wales is also launching two new services, and anyone wanting to volunteer their help is welcome.

Soon there will be Telephone Circles, a version of the current Zoom club for six-eight people at a time to reminisce about sporting events.

Then there will also be Kitbags: a bundle of physical activity equipment, a DVD, and resource cards to help people get moving at home.

"We've had to learn too, and Zoom isn't for everybody, so we wanted to make sure it was available to everyone," said Nikki.

"Our aim is to reach as many people as we can."

If you're interested about joining a local Sporting Memories Wales club, or volunteering, you can either visit their website or contact Nikki Foster via telephone on 07515916305 or email at [email protected].