COMMUNITY groups are working tirelessly to plan festive meals for isolated and vulnerable people.

Blackburn with Darwen’s social integration programme – Our Community, Our Future – has given funding to various community groups to help them bring people together at what isn’t always a happy time of year for everyone.

Local charity Secret Santa is providing meals for a number of Christmas lunch events for elderly or isolated residents, and refugees.

Two events will take place on Thursday - one at Derwent Hall in Darwen with 100 free places available and another at Ewood Park's Blues Bar, where 75 spaces have already been snapped up.

To book for Derwent Hall, contact 01254 702259.

Another meal will be put on during Christmas Day at Ivy Street Community Centre in Blackburn – 40 free places are available – for more information and to book places, contact the community centre on 01254 55977 or ivyst.m.c@gmail.com.

In the Lammack area of Blackburn, the Lammack Association is working with Lammack Methodist Church, The Prayer Room and the Hare & Hounds pub to bring people together for a Christmas meal on Wednesday, December 18, hosted in the pub on Lammack Road.

A total of 60 tickets have gone to lonely and isolated people living in the Lammack area.

On Friday, December 20, Arts2Heal is hosting a Christmas lunch for Blackburn West health group.

Around 30 of the group’s service users, people with mild to moderate mental health issues, will gather together at Arts2Heal’s base in James Street, Blackburn.

On Monday, December 23, Darwen Food Share is inviting their regular drop-in service users to a Christmas meal.

Astley Bank Hotel in Darwen is providing the food, and Our Community, Our Future funding will pay for food hampers for guests to take away to enjoy over the Christmas period.

This event is a partnership between Darwen Food Share, Community Spirit Blackburn, Secret Santa, Helping Hands & Food Larder and the Friends of Whitehall Park Gardening Community Project.

Local Rainbows, Brownies and Guides are getting involved too, making festive table decorations for the event.

Sayyed Osman, director of adult services and prevention, said: “This time of year really does bring out the best in people and it’s fantastic to see so many community groups working together to make sure no one needs to feel lonely this Christmas.

“Thank you to all the volunteers who get involved in the organisation and running of these events – they’re undoubtedly going to have a huge impact for the people they’re supporting.”

There are several other community groups planning Christmas events at venues across the borough:

• On Tuesday, December 10, between noon and 3pm Shadsworth Hub Community Centre is hosting a Christmas meal – tickets cost £5

• On Thursday, December 12 between 6pm and 8pm Shadsworth Hub Community Centre is hosting a children’s Christmas party on Thursday 12 December between 6 & 8pm – tickets cost £2

• On Saturday,December 14, between 5pm and 7pm Shadsworth Hub Community Centre is hosting a Santa meet and greet, which is free to local residents

• On Monday, December 16, from 6.30pm Shadsworth Hub Community Centre is also holding a turkey and wine event – tickets are £3

• On Tuesday December 17, from 10.30am Greenfields Community Centre is planning a lunchtime Christmas buffet with music and dancing – tickets are £5

• On Wednesday, December 18, between noon and 3.30pm Greenfields Community Centre is also arranging a three course Christmas meal – tickets are £5

• On Thursday, December 19, Ivy Street Community Centre is hosting two free festive events – one for parents with children, another for vulnerable people and their carers

• On Thursday, December 19, between 6pm and 7.30pm Shadsworth Hub Community Centre is holding a chocolate bingo event – tickets are £2.

For more information and to buy tickets, contact the community centres direct.

Contact details for all the centres are available on the council website.

A number of local charities are also supporting people in need this festive season.

The Al Imdaad Foundation is distributing festive food parcels on Sunday, December 22, and Sunday, December 29, from their base on Audley Range in Blackburn.

Contact Al Imdaad on 01254 698771 for more information.

Blackburn UK Trust will also be sharing food parcels every Wednesday during December, including on Christmas Day itself, between 7 and 8pm from Wesley Hall Methodist Church on Feilden Street in Blackburn.

Contact Arman Zaman 07722 631434 on for more information.