ELDERLY residents have been left disappointed and devastated to say goodbye to their weekly lunch club in Droitwich.
Fortrs Living ran the the club at the Heriots every Thursday but funding cuts led them to end the event after their assessment showed not enough residents were accessing the club and the money would be better spent elsewhere.
The regulars have now started a Save our Lunch Club campaign after its end has left a ‘massive hole in the lives of the Droitwich people’.
Lunch goer, Colin Bennett, said: “I’m really down in the dumps now I don’t have my Thursday lunch club to look forward to and the chance to meet and talk with friends I have made over a long period of time. It was a life line for people like me who live on our own and don’t have the opportunity to go out very often”.
Droitwich coun, Alan Humphries, met with representatives from Fortis Living who said they would be happy to let the club continue if someone took on the responsibility of running the service.
“Whilst I understand the reasons for their decision, this doesn’t help people like Colin.”
Age UK have suggested such social groups are one of the best ways to tackle loneliness and social isolation among elderly people. They also said losing such a service can be worse than never having one at all.
Local campaigner Val Humphries said “I’ve run services for older people in the past and I know the physical and mental health benefits of regular social contact.”
Assistant director of Housing and Community Service Sue Heelas said: “Fortis Living is committed to the development and delivery of social activities for older people and to ensuring we deliver a fair service across every single one of our schemes.
“We feel our new tenant-led programme will offer social opportunities with a much broader appeal and also give more people the chance to benefit from it.”
Anyone who is able to take over the running of the Thursday lunch club is urged to contact Coun humphries on 07971220671 or email [email protected].
