January 21, 2021

Lockdown and COVID-19 Centre Update

Following the latest UK guidelines on COVID-19, we have had to take measures to ensure the safety of our guests and compliance to the latest restrictions. Please see below a letter from the Centre director:


Dear Friends,

Firstly let me wish you a Happy New Year and we pray and hope that 2021 will in time be better than last year, although we haven’t got off to a good start have we.

The government have issued a very strong message of STAY AT HOME, protect yourselves, and protect others.

The guidelines state you must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary.

You may leave the home to:

  • shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
  • go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
  • exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
  • meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
  • seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
  • attend education or childcare – for those eligible

If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local – unless it is necessary to go further, for example to go to work. Stay local means stay in the village, town, or part of the city where you live.

Support groups that have to be delivered in person can continue with up to 15 participants where formally organised to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support – but they must take place at a premises other than a private home.

The St Pauls Centre has been offering support via phone calls or through the Café Connect and Eat n Meet groups.

We recognise that for some, we are a life line and we will continue to be there for you either via weekly calls or face to face.
Please, if you are unwell, or in that vulnerable bracket we ask that you stay at home.

It is important that ALL of us stay safe and well.

Remember to contact us if you are not coming via the St Pauls Centre number 01388 813404

We will be here for you as guidelines permit, but each of us MUST play our part in keeping each other safe.

Thank you
Maureen Aspey (Director)


You can read more about what events and services we are still able to provide in our What’s On section.

You can also read the guidelines issues by County Durham by dDownloading the Community Venues Guidelines document.