Story:Aishah Baroo | Photo: Lisa Swift
The Pitsmoor Lunch Club is one of the oldest voluntary lunch clubs to have been set up in Sheffield and this year will mark its 38th anniversary.
It is run by a team of dedicated volunteers who ensure that the club provides a quality two course meal with hot drinks on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from £2.50 for the elderly. It is held from 11:00 till 1:00pm at the Pitsmoor Methodist Church.
The organisers are currently looking for a voluntary relief driver for the minibus to transport their members from their homes to the club.
Although the club is based in Pitsmoor, it covers a wide range of areas within Sheffield like Brightside, Burngreave, Carbrook, City Centre, Fir Vale, Firth Park, Grimesthorpe, Longley, Shirecliffe, Pitsmoor and Pyebank.
Fiona who has been bringing her mother Sybil (who recently relocated to Eccesfield), to the club for 18 months emphasised how fundamental the club is for her and her mother stating that
“I value this time as a carer” and it helps her mother with “mental stimulation”… and “she often eats more at the club than at home because she feels comfortable around people her own age”.
Ivy, who has been a volunteer at the club for over 16 years helps to prepare the meals on the menu. Having been a member of the Pitsmoor Methodist Church herself, she felt that this was one of the ways that she could serve the community. She emphasised that it was rewarding to see the appreciation from the attendees as
“they like coming for the company because most of them live alone and often look forward to a hot meal”.
For the members themselves the club is a great place for socialising and for some members like Ada and Vera it has been a place for a fruitful friendship. They both agreed that they looked forward to coming and that
“it is difficult to get out without somebody’s help”.
Transport which costs £2 per person is a key issue for the Lunch club because most of the members rely on the minibus on a Tuesday that is provided by Pitsmoor and Shiregreen Community Transport.
Volunteer driver needed
If you would like to attend or would like to refer someone to the Lunch Club, please don’t hesitate to contact Pam Eaton on (0114) 243 5333. Alternatively, If you would like to volunteer as a minibus driver there are some requirements:
You must be over the age of 21
Have a clean licence
You will need MiDAS training (this can be provided) and a CRB check
You don’t have to stay for the full duration of the club hours.