WHITE Horse Day Centre, based in Grassacres Hall, is helping to combat loneliness in the elderly, giving them a place to meet new people. However, they are looking for more members and volunteers to keep the centre running.
The club is aimed at those over 65 years and they currently have vacancies for new members to join their days which provide a range of meals and activities. Members are given a cooked three-course lunch, along with tea, coffee and biscuits in the morning and afternoon – all for just £7 per person.
They also take part in games and quizzes whilst others bring their knitting or play cards. There is a raffle every session costing £1 to enter where members bring in prizes.
All birthdays are celebrated and each session looks to try to include all members.
The club needs more volunteers to help in the kitchen, prepare the food and dish-up the lunches, as well as assisting with club members. Sessions run on Tuesdays and Thursday from 10.30-3pm.
Visiting some of the club members, White Horse News spoke to Joan Durston, who said, “I live on my own and the day centre is somewhere to go to get a lovely meal and meet up with people. I come every Thursday and it’s great because we all need companionship.
“I lost my husband three years ago and I’d be lost without it here.”
Iris Ryal and Dot Lanfear together said, “It’s great here as you meet everybody and we’ve even reunited after years because of the club. Everyone is so friendly here and they really look after us.
“Older people have no-where else to go, so we would all just stay inside if it wasn’t for Chris, Jackie and Sue who run the club.
“We even go on holiday together – we’ve been to Paignton for a week recently and day trips to Weymouth. We even bring our friends along from Chippenham who say the club is just wonderful!”
If you are interested in joining the club, as a member or a volunteer, you can contact the club via Christine Mitchell on 07891 432215 for Tuesdays and Jackie Clay on 07811 990040 for Thursdays.
If you want to join as a member but have no transport or are not able bodied, please contact a number above where they can assist in sorting out transport.
Picture: Day centre members including Dot Lanfear (second from left), Joan Durston and Iris Ryal (far right).
