A POPULAR Burnley luncheon club which is a ‘lifeline for many of its members’ is looking for volunteers to help out.

Rosehill Luncheon Club, which meets every Thursday at Rosehill Baptist Church in Burnley, was established in 1987.

For many years the club operated out of Bleak House Community Centre, but then moved to The Cabin in South West Burnley, then to The Orchard in Heather Bank, before settling at Rosehill Baptist Church 2009.

The group, which has around 35 regular members, ranging from 50 to 95 years old, meet for a hot two-course home cooked meal, followed by refreshments and a game of bingo.

Members also get together several times throughout the year for social trips and days out to places such as Blackpool to see the illuminations and to Morecambe, as well as having special Christmas and Easter meals.

Linda Searle, Health and Wellbeing manager for Burnley Council, said: “The luncheon club is a lifeline for many of the members, it is the only social activity that many of them take part in each week.

“It reduces social isolation and improves their confidence and wellbeing as well as giving them an opportunity to meet friends and make new ones.

“In our society we now have an ageing population, they are a vulnerable group and to have an activity such as this goes a long way to reduce social isolation.

“Some of the participants live on their own and do not always want to cook themselves a hot meal.

“The club gives them a healthy, nutritious meal with lots of vegetables on their plate as well as lean meat and a tasty pudding, which is something a bit special for them.”

Some younger adults, alongside members of the group act as volunteers to undertake kitchen duties such as cooking, washing up and serving meals.

The main organiser of the club is Eileen Cock.

The meal costs £4.

Anyone wanting to attend, or find out more information should contact Linda Searle on 01282 477127.