SO what happens to our social lives when we had to stay at home?

In lieu of the usual trips to pubs, theatres and friends’ homes there was only one place to be: online.

Almost overnight families kept apart by lockdown rules changed their communications habits - shunning the previously voice-only telephone call for a face-to-face chat on platforms such as Zoom.

Along with the technology came more opportunities - for socialising, keeping clubs going and raising money for charities.

One club that used technology to good effect was 2nd Worcester Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Young Leaders, who had their first ever (virtual) at home camp.

Youngsters took part in a series of activities including participating in Clap for carers in Necker and camp blanket, as well as building an indoor den, and sleeping in it or in a tent in the garden.

Over 70 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Young Leaders, and adult volunteers took part. There were regular Zoom meetings for the camp, held over the first bank holiday weekend in May, as well as Facebook live sessions.

The group also held a virtual camp fire, via Zoom, which dozens of people took part in.

Paul Carpenter, group scout leader, said the event was a real success.

He added: “I was a little apprehensive about the virtual camp fire. It went really well with approx 100 taking part including parents and we even had one person who set their alarm for 5am to join from Australia!

“We are having a special badge made for those who took part, which has been designed by one of our Young Leaders.”

As people looked for lockdown entertainment, online quizzes had a moment - and one local charity tapped into that zeitgeist to secure financial support.

Emma Williams, from the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, said: “Our income, as with every other charity at the moment, has decreased over the past few months but our expenditure has increased as there has been a bigger demand for our support.

“We’ve been delivering care packages to local oncology families in Worcestershire and also awarding Covid-19 support grants. So by holding a quiz we could generate some income that would give the charity a much needed boost but also we wanted to get everyone together and have some fun and help raise the profile of the charity during this difficult time.”

The Trust drafted in former radio DJ Richard ‘Hursty’ Hurst as host.

Emma said: “We have now held two quizzes, both of which went really well and were well attended and have raised just over £800 for us, which is fantastic. We used Zoom so the quizzes were kept private, it also gives the participants the opportunity to see everyone and say hello.

“We introduced bonus points for best team name, best Zoom background and best fashion accessory. We had families sitting as part of the Simpsons TV programme, sitting in New York, Bali, floating in space- we had some really great Zoom backgrounds.

“We also had a family dress up as the University Challenge panel and we had some great team names as well, so this all added to the overall fun factor.

Emma added: “We have held two quizzes, those that took part all had a really good time. There was a bit of competitiveness going on and some good banter taking place on the chat function. “Overall everyone just enjoyed the ‘virtual’ company.”

The charity says it will hold a third quiz at the end of June.

Adrian Field, from Crowle, was among those who took part in one of the quizzes, drafting in family members and friends from other parts of the country.

He said: “It was huge fun with teams going to great lengths with their virtual backgrounds, attire and imaginative team names.”

Mr Field added: “It felt like a really nice way to be able to connect with family and friends and spend time together at a time when our ability to socialise in person was so limited.”