Activities to do at home

Many of us are at home a lot more than we’re used to. This may be because you’ve been furloughed, you’re working from home or you’re home schooling the kids.

If you feel like you’ve run out of ideas to keep yourself entertained, active and connected with your family and friends, we’ve found some great online activities and ideas that may help.

Online learning and personal development

There’s lots of free online activities and platforms you can use during this time, to help you learn a new skill or brush up on an old hobby.

Ways to relax

We’ve found some online tools and activities to help you relax and unwind, if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or cut off from your friends and family.

Podcasts

  • Grounded with Louis Theroux. Stuck at home, Louis is using the lockdown to track down some high-profile people he’s been longing to talk to – from all walks of life and on both sides of the Atlantic. New episodes weekly
  • Collection of podcasts available on BBC Sounds
  • Real Leaders Podcast featuring Oprah Winfrey and the Power of Empathy

Reading material

Virtual tours

Theatre shows and live performances

Additional activities

Keeping active

We all know the rules about only leaving the house for work  if you can’t work from home, and keeping the correct two metre distance from others when you do. Sometimes you just haven’t got the time to get out and exercise too. Why not try some online workouts instead?

Activities for young people

We’ve introduced several changes to our services, following government advice on coronavirus (Covid-19). This includes the temporary suspension of all youth and community activities delivered by Catalyst until further notice. 

Here are some online activities and other resources to help to help keep your young people active and entertained.

Learning

  • BBC bitesize offers accessible online lessons on different topics and subjects
  • Fun Brain has online videos, games, reading and maths zones for school years 1 – 8
  • Hello Kids for craft ideas, drawing and colouring, videos, games and songs for children of all ages
  • E-learning for kids offers various fun learning resources on subjects from languages, science and maths to environmental skills, life skills and health
  • National Geographic for kids to discover all you need to know about history, geography, animals and science
  • History for kids is a free history network for kids
  • Learn about climate change, Morse code, ancient rivers on Mars, gaming and tons more with BBC Newsround
  • Fun English Games offers a range of fun activities and resources. You can find links to fun maths and fun science on the site too.

Fun stuff

Ways to stay in touch

If technology isn’t your thing and you feel like you’re always the one holding up the group chats because you can’t log in properly. We’ve found some great online guides to help you feel more technically savvy and find some new ways to keep in touch without breaking the rules.

We’re also here to offer support and advice through our Wellbeing Project

Volunteer opportunities

While normal volunteering activities are currently on hold, there are still many ways you can volunteer and help out in your local community.  Many activities – such as online befriending – can be done without even leaving your home.

Below gives a selection of volunteering opportunities available.