Well-being sessions supposed to be held at Newark's Carriages Café cancelled under second national lockdown

Anxious people who suffered under the first national lockdown have now found well-being sessions at a Newark café cancelled under the second.

Stressed-out people of all ages were due to learn important coping strategies at Carriages tearooms.

Now the latest lockdown means the sessions have been postponed.

Carriages owner Wendy Baird, who has sponsorship for the sessions from town firm Barcode Warehouse, said the very people they were trying to help could now suffer even more.

Wendy said: “It is such a shame we have had to postpone these sessions, which were popular. The mental health crisis facing many people in this country now will only get worse.”

The sessions, called Beating Lockdown Stress, were to be held in the café, at Newark Castle railway station, led by experts offering tips on dealing with mental health issues.

They were planned for consecutive Tuesdays in November.

The charity Mind has reported a crisis of mental health in Britain due to the lockdown and has warned it will get worse with each restriction.

Wendy said: “I got the idea from talking to my customers and friends. I recognised that so many people were suffering with lockdown fatigue and needed help. When we moved into tier three, the need increased.

“The sessions are for everyone. These could be businessmen and women worried about going back to their office space, or older people concerned about getting back out into the community.

“They would benefit people who have lost their jobs and need help rediscovering their confidence. People relax in a friendly environment and are willing to share experiences and ideas on how to cope.”

She said the café was the ideal location, with high ceilings and plenty of space for social distancing.

“We have experts in the area who were delighted to help and kindly devised tailor-made sessions for us, with psychotherapy, tai chi and even a performance poet and actor.”

Newark psychotherapist Kevin Guthrie has talked about focusing on what people can do during lockdown rather than what they can’t, using breathing techniques to help.

Tai chi practitioner Wes Mollison, from Newark, offers simple movements to follow to help overcome stress. Newark actor and poet Steve Cawte reads his and other’s people’s poems to make people smile.

Jo Lee, from the sponsors of the first sessions, Barcode Warehouse, said: “We are always keen to support businesses in Newark and I am in awe of Wendy who always puts other people first.

“She is making such a difference to our community and we are delighted to be involved.”