THE Young at Heart Club, which tackles loneliness and isolation in the Wellington District has received £2000 from the Postcode Community Trust.

The award will be used to enable the Young at Heart Club to provide transport for rurally isolated people to attend the club and benefit from a full day of activities and two course lunch three days a week.

Postcode Community Trust is a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Lloyd Yorke, Young at Heart Club Chairman, said “The support we have received thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery is amazing and will benefit many older people in our community.

“Our clubs are very well attended with up to 50 attendances per week and many of the members require transport to get to our clubs in Uplowman and Burlescombe.

“With this funding we can continue to provide our volunteer driver service which offers an affordable door-to-door, friendly, safe means of transport”.

Last year the Young at Heart Club travelled over 14,000 miles bringing isolated members to the club and prepared over 4,600 meals.

Members enjoy a wide range of games and activities. Since the club opened in 2014 they have had over 6,000 attendances, which equates to more than 33,000 hours of relief from loneliness!

Muriel from Wellington said: “It’s wonderful, so stimulating especially for the older people who can’t drive and are provided with transport here.

“All the games are good, a kind of occupational therapy and we enjoy talking to each other because sometimes people can go weeks without meeting anyone.

“It takes courage to make the first move to come but it’s definitely worth it!”

The Young at Heart Club can be contacted by phoning 07704 040 399 or emailing [email protected]. More information about the club’s activities and the days they are open can be found on their website www.youngatheart.club.