Snack & Chat Lunch Club Brings Companionship and Support

Told by Danielle, Snack & Chat Support Worker at Worcester Community Trust

My client began attending our Snack & Chat group at The Green Hub following the closure of her local social club during the Covid pandemic.  She was experiencing severe loneliness and had limited local support, with her sons living in different parts of the UK and visiting infrequently. She had been told about the Snack & Chat lunch club through the Worcester Wheels service, which supported her accessing medical appointments. 

When I met this person, she was very independent and forward thinking, however experiences of arthritis in her knees meant she was not as mobile as she would have liked. She was in real need of some regular connection to help manage her wellbeing and reduce her feelings of loneliness.

On her first visit, she told me “I’m old, I’m struggling, I don’t know what to do”. I took the time to listen and then contacted another staff member for some guidance on local support services, which we would be able to link her to through her attendance of the weekly lunch clubs. 

Information was obtained about the council in-home assessment through adult social services, and this was shared my client. She gave consent for me to be present whilst she contacted this team, to help with the process and check understanding. I checked in weekly with her at each lunch club, to ensure this was progressing. Our project volunteer was then assigned to offer additional companionship and offer practical support during the lunch clubs, ensuring she had full accessibility.

Additional information was provided by the team to help my client gain some structured understanding of the support that was in place for her in regards to prescriptions, visits from a cleaner etc.  This provided her with the confidence and information on who she needed to talk to.

Since then, my client has now struck up a personal friendship with our Snack & Chat volunteer and they have enjoyed each other’s company out of Snack & Chat, even spending time together on Christmas Day for lunch this year, as her family were unable to visit.  This has helped both sides with reducing isolation and has had a significant impact my client.

My client cherishes her visits to Snack & Chat lunch club and the regular contact it provides;

“I love it, I’ve got another group I go to occasionally, but this is my favourite, I love talking to you all” – she spends time around the table sharing stories and stays behind to catch up with people when the lunch has finished.