On Friday, I joined residents in Staple Hill for lunch at the Community Hub in Berkeley House. The lunch club is one of several groups that meet at the Community Hub with the aim of bringing together local residents, local businesses, voluntary organisations and community groups.
As part of a full programme of activities, the Community Hub provide a job searchers support group, a twice weekly lunch club, access to a credit union, and an older people’s friendship and exercise club.
All the attendees of the Lunch Club praised the work of the team of volunteers and spoke of how they look forward to coming for lunch each Friday and Monday. I have written to Tracey Crouch MP, Minister for Loneliness, to invite her to join me at the lunch club and hear about the friendship club as I believe that there are many community focussed solutions to loneliness and I want to showcase the incredible initiatives in Staple Hill.