A LUNCH club which aims to beat loneliness and isolation in Southampton is to hold an open day on Friday.

The Haven Lunch Club is run by St Mark’s Church in partnership with the charity Communicare.

The event is being funded as part of Southampton City Council’s Celebration Grants awarded to Communicare and is one of five events that have taken place or are being held across the city.

Jenny Pike, who runs the club, said: “We cater for all ages, we have members from a university student through to a 100-year-old. Our door is open to all. We have a lot of fun together and look after each other too.

“We’re inviting anyone to join us who wishes to meet new people and share some lunch. A very warm welcome awaits everyone!

“We operate like a family and work with the families of our members as well. There was once a strong community feel to areas of the city like ours, which is not so good now. We aim to replace that.”

The lunch club Open Day starts at 11.30am and runs until 2.30pm with entertainment by ‘With a Song in Mind’ Creative Options Choir. Entry to the event, in Archers Road, will cost £2 per person.

Annie Clewlow, Manager at Communicare, explained: “The lunch club at the Haven is run by St Mark’s Church in partnership with us and the team includes some of our committed, kind-hearted volunteers, who act as good neighbours, generously providing a weekly natter, cuppa, lunch and a game of Scrabble or similar social activities, as well as other practical and emotional support.

“We have lots of people who would like to come along to the club, but they need help getting to it and we urgently need more volunteer drivers to provide just a little bit of time each week to help.

“Information coming to us from a variety of sources including the city council’s scrutiny panel on loneliness and isolation, shows that we need far more initiatives like these lunches give people the chance to get together and simply enjoy each other’s company. For us that is the key to a strong and effective community.”

Communicare, which is based in the heart of Southampton, is a friendly, neighbourhood charity that enriches the lives of lonely and isolated people in and around the city with the help of its band of volunteers.

Communicare’s Good Neighbours’ Network supports nearly 350 individuals/families annually in Southampton, covering more than 600 different tasks such as one-to-one befriending and transport to activities. All the assistance offered is free to users, although beneficiaries are invited to make a donation if they are able to, and Communiteers are offered expenses.

The Haven Lunch Club takes place every Friday. To find out more, call 023 8063 2690.