While the country is in lockdown and we are all being asked to stay at home, it can be hard to find things to do. We’ve collected together some resources, including activities, tips and ideas. We hope that these links will inspire you to spend your time doing something fun, creative or relaxing.
If you have any suggestions for activities or resources to include on this page please email info@derventiohousing.com
Free distraction pack
Derventio has created a distraction pack filled with activities, tips and ideas to stay healthy and busy during the lockdown period.
The 16-page booklet includes puzzles and activities including Sudoku, wordsearch and a stay at home bingo game. It has tips on enjoying the outdoors and looking after your wellbeing. There are also lots of links to advice and online resources for more games, activities and free content. We hope it will inspire people to find ways to spend their time doing something fun, creative or relaxing.
It has been shared with everyone living in our supported housing as well as the people we work with through our employability and skill-building projects.
It is also available for individuals, groups and organisations to download and use. This resource is free to access. If you find it helpful, please do consider making a donation to support our work with people facing homelessness and other challenges.
Download Free Distraction PackMore free activities, tips and ideas
Puzzles and Games
BrainBashers (brainteasers, puzzles, riddles and optical illusions)
https://www.brainbashers.com/
Brainzilla (puzzles, word games, logic games and brainteasers)
https://www.brainzilla.com/
DadsWorksheets (worksheets, puzzles and games)
https://www.dadsworksheets.com/
Free printable puzzles
https://freeprintablepuzzles.co.uk/
Ken’s Dingbats (and other word puzzles)
https://www.kensdingbats.co.uk/
Hexalia Games
http://www.hexaliagames.com/games/
Sudoko
https://sudoku.com/
Words Up? (trivia quizzes and word games)
https://wordsup.co.uk/
Wordsearch
https://thewordsearch.com/
Art and Creativity
Artcore live craft and art sessions
https://www.facebook.com/ArtcoreUK
Chrome Music Lab
https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments
Colouring pages for adults
https://www.justcolor.net/
Create to Connect
https://64millionartists.com/our-work/create-to-connect/
Doodle – games and activities celebrating the art of mark making and drawing
https://www.bom.org.uk/doodle/main.php
#FioPen2PaperChallenge
https://www.wearefio.co.uk/fiopen2paperchallenge
#GetCreativeAtHome
https://getcreativeuk.com/
#GetDrawingatChatsworth
https://www.chatsworth.org/your-visit/learning/learning-resources/get-drawing/
#HoldStill – submit your photographic portrait to the National Portrait Gallery
https://www.npg.org.uk/hold-still/
How to Draw Worksheets
https://drawinglessonsfortheyoungartist.blogspot.com/
Isolation Art School (projects, lessons and tips by artists)
https://www.instagram.com/isolationartschool/
Letters of Constraint (National Justice Museum)
https://www.nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk/lettersofconstraint/
Photography techniques with Jon Legge
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrJonphoto
Street Cones free online workshops
https://streetcones.org/online-workshops/
Write 2 Connect
https://www.cleanbreak.org.uk/news/write-2-connect/
Mental Health and Wellbeing
10 Days of Happiness free online coaching
https://10daysofhappiness.org/
Free NHS talking therapy services with Insight Healthcare
https://www.insighthealthcare.org/
Mental wellbeing while staying at home
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-at-home-tips/
Mindfulness exercises and tips
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/mindfulness/mindfulness-exercises-tips/
Vitaminds (NHS Mental Health Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Services)
https://www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/nhs-services/nhs-mental-health/
Wellness Society Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook
https://thewellnesssociety.org/free-coronavirus-anxiety-workbook/
Exercise and Fitness
5 top tips to stay safe while cycling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2KtRXGMHgY&t=
Active at Home booklet
https://mcusercontent.com/96ade5f8c2631a046d38e81b3/files/4ac1886d-2ef6-4f70-b2a0-0f6b027e71cc/active_at_home.pdf
Couch to 5k
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/
Digme Fitness free workouts
https://www.instagram.com/digmefitness/
Get fit for free
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/activity/get-fit-for-free
Home workout videos
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/for-your-body/move-more/home-workout-videos/
Ramblers walking challenge #RoamSweetHome
https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/roam-sweet-home.aspx
Sport England #StayInWorkOut
https://www.sportengland.org/stayinworkout#join_the_movement
Skills and Learning
British Sign Language (BSL) lessons
https://www.sense.org.uk/sense-sign-school
Duolingo (learn a language for free)
https://www.duolingo.com/
How to juggle with Mat Ricardo
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4HGlamvpDx7umnkoW1xnbb172i7i-T0y
The Skills Toolkit (free digital and numeracy courses)
https://theskillstoolkit.campaign.gov.uk/
Entertainment
BBC Sounds
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds
Free ebooks, magazines and audiobooks from your local library
https://www.gov.uk/local-library-services
Live-streaming concerts and DJ sets
https://www.timeout.com/music/awesome-live-streaming-concerts-to-enjoy-from-home
Radio stations and podcasts
https://mytuner-radio.com/
Stage shows, musicals and opera
https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/stage-shows-musicals-opera-free-stream-online_51198.html
Culture and Travel
Access Mars (explore a 3D replica of the Martian surface)
https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/
Craft activities, film suggestions and more at Virtual QUAD
https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/about/news?type=All
Deda Live in Your Living Room
https://www.deda.uk.com/news/2020/live-in-your-living-room-update
Derby Museums – virtual tours of past exhibitions
https://www.derbymuseums.org/virtual-tours-of-past-exhibitions
First Art Go the Distance
https://firstart.org.uk/things-we-do/gothedistance/
Google Arts and Culture
https://artsandculture.google.com/
Travel the world with these livestream cameras
https://www.outsideonline.com/2412083/best-live-travel-webcams
Other
#30DaysWild Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
https://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/30-days-wild-2020
Barons Court Project Wellbeing Pack
https://www.baronscourtproject.org/
Canals at Home
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/our-campaigns/canals-at-home-our-best-bits
Cyber Aware
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/home
Derby Overview of Support (courtesy of Sabina Talib, BBO Stakeholder Manager for Derby)
Homeless Link list of resources
https://www.homeless.org.uk/covid19-homelessness
How to identify birds
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/birdwatching/how-to-identify-birds/
Jack Monroe recipes
https://cookingonabootstrap.com/category/recipes-food/
Wildlife gardening
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/gardening