Friendship Matters

Friendship Matters Senior Support Group

On a Monday the community café is closed to the public and offers a senior support group: Friendship Matters which runs from 9.45 -1.30pm at The Lounge.

This group is a free and available to local seniors. The sessions offers gentle seated exercised, followed by different  weekly activities. The activities range from brain/memory games, musical, creative or physical activities and assisting with practical and welfare skills to build users’ confidence and bring people together, helping to develop social connections.

The weekly activities are planned and carried out by our Community and Youth Co-ordinator and supported by experience volunteers to help benefit this generation, keeping them active in body and mind, supporting their health and wellbeing and helping combat loneliness and isolation. Previous activities include: Easter and Coronation crafts and decorations, brain training games lead by a guest speaker from Alzheimer’s Research UK, musical bingo sessions, music from Midlands Sinfonia, visits from Glamba Samba Drumming, Police and the Fire Safety Teams and many more, each week is different.

The group is now offering support for up to 24 seniors per week and still has new members joining, it is an opportunity for those that may feel isolated at home throughout the week to meet in a safe and warm space, with other likeminded individuals and have social contact and enjoy a hot meal and pudding. Many of the group have build close relationships and will also now socialise together in the week at the café.

To find out more information about these weekly sessions please contact: rachelrollinson@alvechurchlounge.org.uk or pop in to the cafe for a friendly chat with one of our staff members.

The History: Friendship Matters started in April 2019 after identifying a need in the community to help combat loneliness and isolation in the senior generation in the community and the impact this was having on their mental health, as reported from our local doctors surgery. Funding was secured to run a pilot scheme for a year from The National Lottery Community Fund.

After the initial year, the user feedback confirmed the need and demand for this service to continue, and especially when faced with a global pandemic, with these individuals being classed as most vulnerable. Throughout lockdown our Friendship matters continued to offer support; though weekly wellness calls to all members and hot meals and groceries were dropped at the doorstep to those who needed it. Alongside Alvechurch Cares, a weekly Zoom meeting was set up for those that were able to access this service to be able to keep in contact and have some company, tell stories, recommend films and even have a laugh.

As the Covid restrictions eased and our Monday Friendship Matters sessions resumed and the demand for the service increased, with lots of new members joining the group and for some of these individuals it was the first proper interaction they had had with others in 15 months.

Trips: We have ran a very successful day Trips for local seniors not just those that attend the Friendship Matters group. ‘Back in Time to the Black Country Museum’ in 2023, and ‘A trip down Memory Lane’ to Cadbury World Heritage Tour with afternoon tea in 2024′ for seniors in the local community, thanks to funding from Bromsgrove District Councils Equality Small Grants Scheme funding.

Funding: To continue to run our Friendship Matters Senior Support group we have been very lucky to receive funding from:

• The National Lottery Community Lottery Fund 2019 and 2024.

• Levelling up Funding – Bromsgrove District Council (April 23 –Oct 23)

• The Co-op Community Fund – 2021-2023

Youth at The Lounge is the current local cause that you can support by choosing us and shopping at your local Co-op Branch