CLF funding enables lunch club to run for 12 months

A community group which aims to bring people together and build community spirit is able to run a monthly lunch club for 12 months, thanks to funding from Community Link Foundation.

Community Link Foundation has given funding of more than £900 to Woodvale and Ainsdale Community Association, which will enable them to provide meals for 30 people each month.

The group meets at the Community Centre on Meadow Lane in Ainsdale and the monthly lunch club acts as ‘a vital lifeline’ for older people. It offers the chance for older individuals to feel valued, heard, and connected with others in their community.

Sarah Proctor, manager of Woodvale and Ainsdale Community Association, said: “Thanks to the generous support of the Community Link Foundation, we are thrilled to have our monthly lunch clubs fully funded for the year ahead. This club is more than just a meal – it’s a lifeline for many of our older community members who face social isolation and loneliness.

“The lunch club provides a warm, home-cooked meal and a vital opportunity to connect with friends, share stories, and enjoy the company of others. We’re deeply grateful for the Foundation’s commitment to helping us combat isolation and create a space where everyone feels valued and supported.”

Each month, people will enjoy a two-course lunch and the opportunity to come together, share conversations, and build connections with others in the community.

Enda Rylands, Chair of Community Link Foundation, said: “We are so pleased to be able to fund these lunches until March 2026. It’s about much more than the food but about bringing people together and combating feelings of isolation. This group provides a safe environment where people can feel welcome and supported.”

As well as the monthly lunches, the group offers a range of activities from chair-based exercise, monthly lunch clubs, craft classes, health and wellbeing workshops, Origami, day trips, term time and school holiday programmes.