Stroke survivors in Medway discovered the power of bingo to help reduce loneliness and social isolation which often follows a stroke

Stroke survivors in Medway have been discovering the power of bingo to help reduce loneliness and social isolation which often follows a stroke.

Members of Medway Stroke Club were VIP guests of Buzz Bingo in Rochester thanks to the company’s charity partnership with the Stroke Association.

Buzz Bingo staff welcomed 21 members to a “shushfree lounge” providing refreshments, goodie bags and guidance for first time players.

Denise Martin, the club’s lead volunteer, said: “The staff were amazing and so patient. Everyone loved their bingo session, and some are talking about returning on their own.”

The partnership between Buzz Bingo and the Stroke Association has so far raised more than £200,000 over three years but raising awareness of how hard life can become after a stroke is equally important.

Julia Simpson, corporate partnerships manager at the Stroke Association, said the physical, emotional and financial impacts of stroke can severely affect stroke survivors’ ability to enjoy their social lives.

Julia said: “Nearly three quarters of stroke survivors we recently surveyed told us they spend less or no time socialising with their families and friends since their stroke.

“More than a third of stroke survivors said they would like more chances to socialise and to go to clubs and societies. Playing bingo brings people together to have fun, which is why our partnership with Buzz bingo has been so successful.”

Nikki Ashby, club manager at Buzz Bingo Medway, said: “We are incredibly proud of the partnership between Buzz Bingo and the Stroke Association, and it was a genuine pleasure to welcome the members of the Medway Stroke Club to our club.

“Seeing the joy on everyone's faces and knowing we could provide a safe, warm, and supportive environment for them to socialise and have fun is what our clubs are all about. We're committed to doing our part to help combat the loneliness and isolation that many stroke survivors face and look forward to hosting more of these fantastic visits.

EDITOR’S NOTES

About the Stroke Association

• Every day in the UK, another 240 people wake up to the catastrophic impact of a stroke
• Over 90,000 people survive a stroke every year in the UK, but surviving a stroke is just the start of a long and gruelling recovery journey.
• Anyone – mums, dads, grandparents, young people, even children – can have a stroke, and its impact is traumatic. 
• Brain damage, caused by a stroke, can leave survivors unable to move, see, speak or even swallow.   
• The Stroke Association is the only charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families. We provide tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year, fund vital scientific research, and campaign to bring the best care and support for everyone affected by stroke.
• Anyone affected by stroke can visit stroke.org.uk or call our dedicated Stroke Support Helpline on 0303 3033 100 for information, guidance or a chat when times are tough.
• You can follow us on X, Facebook , Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn

About Buzz Group Ltd

Buzz Group Ltd runs the UK’s largest omni-channel bingo operator, Buzz Bingo. Buzz Group supports its clubs from its Buzz Hub in Nottingham and Live Studio in Derby, whilst Buzz Bingo Digital Ltd oversees it’s online platforms from the groups office in Gibraltar.

Buzz Bingo’s cross-generational community numbers over a million members and each week welcomes over 100,000 people to enjoy bingo, play slots, eat great value food and drink, and create winning memories together. Members share bingo winnings of over £2 million per week in Club and Online.

With the game enjoying renewed popularity amongst new, younger players, and a commitment to safer gambling and fostering its community of players, Buzz Group is well-positioned to get the British public to fall in love with bingo in all its forms.

Launched in 2018, buzzbingo.com captures the in-club feeling of playing among friends, allowing people to play together, anywhere via their mobile, tablet, desktop or on Touchpads in all clubs. Sister brand buzzcasino.com was added to the portfolio in January 2023, focused on gaming and a fun, safe online casino experience to complement the bingo offering..

2019 saw the launch of The Slots Room at Buzz Bingo, reinvigorating slots arcades in Buzz Bingo’s retail venues.

In 2021 the group stepped into the social entertainment space with “Buzz Presents…” launching a programme of social bingo events including BADA Bingo – developed in-house – and partnerships with entertainment brands to create innovative bingo-oriented events.

Buzz Bingo’s heritage goes back 5 decades, with the current family of venues including Granada, Ritz, Carlton and Gala Bingo clubs. The group rebranded to Buzz Bingo from Gala Leisure Ltd in May 2018 following the sale of Ladbrokes Coral Group Plc’s retail clubs to Caledonia Investments plc in December 2015. The group was sold to Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) in 2021. Buzz Group ‘s five year strategy includes innovation and investment in it’s omnichannel customer experiences.