Weekly lunch clubs serve up warm welcome for Worcester residents

Two Worcester neighbourhoods are benefiting from a new weekly lunch club initiative, thanks to a partnership between ourselves and Worcester Community Trust.  

Following the continued success of the popular Big Stew events held over the past few years, regular weekly lunch clubs have now been launched at our retirement living schemes Himbleton House and Chelmsford Court in the city.  

The sessions are designed to bring local residents together for good food and great company, with each gathering offering a freshly cooked two course meal, including hearty roast dinners.  

The clubs are led by Sharon Amos from Worcester Community Trust, supported by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers.  The sessions have already proved to be a hit with around 25 people attending each week, including some residents travelling from Tolladine to join the community meals.  

Sharon Amos, Project Manager at Worcester Community Trust said: “We are so proud of all the volunteers who have worked so hard cooking and serving these nutritious meals.  Our partnership work with Platform is of real benefit to our local communities, enabling us to deliver events such as these.  Our heartfelt thanks go out to all those involved; this also includes Cadent Gas who is the funder of the Snack and Chat project.”  

Based on 48 sessions per location per year, the initiative is expected to serve around 2,400 meals across both sites over the next 12 months.  

Paul Edwards, our Community Engagement Officer said: “These lunch clubs are about much more than food; they help tackle loneliness, build friendships and create a real sense of belonging, which is what community is all about.”  

The Big Stew events are also set to continue, with both ourselves and Worcester Community Trust exploring how we can further develop and enhance these popular gatherings.  The project was started with the aim of making a difference and combat food crisis.  

We are committed to working in partnership to support thriving communities. 

Photo caption : The popular lunch clubs in Worcester