Friendship Club is helping to combat loneliness

A weekly friendship club that launched earlier this year has been successfully helping to combat loneliness and bring generations together.

The Woolston Friendship Club, run by St Patrick’s Church and St Patrick’s School in partnership us, says it has around 25 regular guests spanning all generations.

Regular attendees

The club has been a huge success since it started earlier in the year. It runs every Wednesday from 10.15am-11.30am at St Patrick’s Church Hall and we are starting to see regular attendees, who say it has been a lifeline to them.

It is an intergenerational club that spans all ages, from a few months to 91 years-of-age. St Patrick’s School often brings along some of its pupils and they really enjoy meeting and socialising with everyone, and vice versa. We even have a new mum and her young baby who come along. She finds it great for getting out of the house.

Cake, friendship and laughter

During the weekly meet ups, attendees can enjoy cake, friendship and laughter together. People don’t have to be lonely in order to attend, many come along just to meet new people and make a difference in someone else’s life.

Anyone is welcome to attend and can turn up during term time on a Wednesday at 10.15am.

A word from our attendees

Shirley May, who attends the club, said: “I was new to Southampton, having moved from Canada. I was introduced to the club by a friend and people have made me feel so welcome.”

Another club attendee, Ita Chinn, said: “The welcome that you get here is outstanding, the people you meet are so friendly and the people who organise it should be put forward for an award.”