Virtual reality is boosting Wigan health and happiness
Visits to the virtual universe courtesy of Wigan Council are helping residents of all ages live happy and healthy lives, it has been claimed.
The council’s Digital Wigan teams are visiting community venues across the borough offering the opportunity to use virtual reality (VR) headsets.
Among the services on offer is a virtual kitchen that helps users plan and then cook healthy meal options and try out new recipes.
Meanwhile, senior residents have been able to reminisce by visiting VR versions of much-loved holiday destinations.
All residents, families or individuals are invited to join in with the next couple of sessions taking place at Higher Folds Community Centre on Monday, August 19, and Monday September 2, between midday and 2pm.
Coun Nazia Rehman, cabinet member for resources, finance and transformation, said: “There are so many additional resources the digital world can offer, and it is a priority for us to introduce them to our communities in a welcoming, educational and fun environment.
“Our Digital Wigan team are on hand to help anyone overcome any worries or barriers they might have to accessing the technology and to help people discover that having a go at VR can not only be enjoyable, but can offer lots of social benefits, such as building confidence and introducing new skills.”
As part of an initiative with Be Well Wigan teams, guests can take away real recipe cards and purchase ingredients in the discounted food pantry at the community centre so that they can recreate the meals for real in their kitchens at home.
The VR headsets were also in demand at a Better Connected Community Fun Day at Bramble House in Worsley Hall earlier this month, where youngsters were queuing up to enter the magical world and try their hand at the latest game.
The Cunningham family; Daniel, Eleanor and Darcy,10, Ebony, seven and one-year-old Blake, were among those to try it out.
Daniel said: “It’s fantastic that everyone can have a go at community events like this, and it’s important because VR is already part of our lives and will become increasingly so in the future.
“It’s great that the team are making it accessible for the kids here today so that they can give it a go and try something new if they haven’t had that opportunity before.”
And it’s not just younger people who are making the most of the council’s Virtual Reality sessions.
The Digital Wigan team are frequent visitors to Wigan Athletic Community Trust's over-55s Extra Time group and recently introduced Betty, 92, and Carys, 77, to the virtual world.
The group were invited to choose places in the world to visit via the headsets and Betty, who had enjoyed fell walking in her younger years, chose to climb Loughrigg in the Lake District.
Betty said: “It was lovely, it’s taken me back 20 years. I couldn’t have done this sort of thing when I was young and I really, really enjoyed it.
"Who would have thought I’d go up Loughrigg again at 92? I just wanted to stay there.”
Carys, whose husband David now has dementia, also decided to use the opportunity to recreate a favourite memory.
She said: “My husband and I both had a go. I requested if we could see a lake in the village where we both grew up.
"We’ve not been able to go back there for a number of years. It was amazing. It brought back so many lovely memories.”