Island's elderly lunch club volunteers praised by MP

AN MP has hailed the work done by a lunch club to improve the social lives of elderly people.
Havant MP Alan Mak with volunteers from the Hayling Island lunch clubHavant MP Alan Mak with volunteers from the Hayling Island lunch club
Havant MP Alan Mak with volunteers from the Hayling Island lunch club

Havant MP Alan Mak visited Hayling Island Community Centre, which will host his first older person information and advice fair, to meet some of the members of the lunch club.

It has been run by volunteers for 30 years and continues to be a huge success, with up to 40 older people attending every week.

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They are given coffee in the morning, which is followed by a game of bingo and then a nutritious lunch.

Mr Mak said: ‘Helping older people is really important and it was great to see the work done by volunteers here at the community centre.

‘Since being elected I’ve been keen to do all I can to highlight the great work done for older people in the community.

‘The volunteers here, led by Ann Louth, have been doing a wonderful job in making sure the older residents of Hayling Island do not become lonely and isolated.

‘It was a pleasure to see them in action.’

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Mr Mak’s fair is on Friday, October 14 at Hayling Island Community Centre. Doors are open from 10am until 3pm.

It will bring together a wide range of businesses, government agencies, community groups and charities that work with or serve older people.

The free event is open to everyone, including the friends, family, neighbours and carers of older people. The News is supporting the event as a media partner.

Mr Mak added: ‘I encourage everyone to come along to my older persons’ fair which will be a fantastic showcase for all the work done to help the elderly in the community.’

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The Hayling Island Community Centre also runs events throughout the week, including social groups and fitness classes.

The community centre was awarded nearly £500,000 funding in March to build a much-needed extension and provide more services.

The two-storey extension will consist of a community café and kitchen on the ground floor, with seating for up to 40 people, a disabled toilet, lift and stairs to the first floor.