Karen Bradley: In this week's column on Nub News, the Moorlands MP has explained why she feels her Senior Tea Dances help to fight loneliness and isolation in the local elderly community.

As we continue with our cautious route out of lockdown, I am pleased that more and more local people are receiving their jabs.

This is fantastic news and down to everyone playing their part in our national effort.

Following a busy week in Parliament, on Friday afternoon I was pleased to host my first ever virtual Senior Tea Dance.

I have held three physical Tea Dances in the past to help combat loneliness and elderly isolation and they have all been such lovely events.

As a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Loneliness, I will also be chairing a session on Transport later this week in Parliament.

Access to good quality transport and support for mobility is vital in enabling people to connect, especially in places such as the Moorlands where we have so many rural villages.

We have all become used to meeting colleagues, friends and family virtually over the last year and as current restrictions did not allow for another physical Tea Dance at the moment, I thought it would be a lovely idea to host a virtual one.

I have to say that it was a great afternoon and would like to thank the Leek Town Crier, Cllr Sybil Ralphs, members of the Biddulph Ukulele Group and our pianist, Richard Keeling, for making it such a memorable and enjoyable occasion.

It was really lovely to come together on a Friday afternoon for some music, singing and some tea and cakes. I know that many people have been shielding and have really missed this kind of social interaction.

I have had some lovely feedback and it seems that everyone enjoyed the Quiz about the Moorlands too.

I look forward to when we can put on another physical event and meet everyone again in person.

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