New seniors club launches at the Riverside Club

Melksham Seniors has announced the launch of a new ‘Seniors Social Club’ which will meet weekly every Thursday morning at the Riverside Club.

The new venture will be an expansion to Melksham seniors’ very successful other range of activities such as the regular film matinees and  the Monday Activity Club.

Chair of Melksham & District Seniors’ 55+ Forum, Brian Warwick said, “We hope this new venture will gain the support of the whole community and will also be part of our efforts to reduce loneliness in Melksham.

“We are planning to start a new weekly range of activities around  our new seniors’ social club on Thursday the 8th February, then every other Thursday morning meeting at 10am  at the Riverside Club. We have invited Melksham’s own popular ukulele group and our local sing-along group to entertain us at our first meeting on the 8th, with a fascinating outline of possible future activities for our own senior social club to adopt.

“Across the UK, senior social clubs have achieved considerable successes, they come in all shapes and sizes offering a wide range of activities, from sing-alongs, dancing, bingo and line dancing, movement to music, crafts, discussion groups and many other healthy and enjoyable activities. Also, offering information to help with understanding pensions and benefits and filling in forms; signpost professional health advice, run exercise programmes or house adult education classes.

“They will also provide local seniors with an opportunity to have a strong community voice on issues that affect their living standards. As we are all aware, politicians have a habit of putting off making decisions around issues facing an ageing society. At least our own club will allow us to discuss such subjects and have those views aired, as we are doing, around the new repeat prescription system when officers from the Wiltshire NHS and Gifford Surgery are coming along to hear our views.

“It is intended that Melksham Seniors Social Club will also organise events that will offer a wide range of social activities and a chance to catch up with new local friends.  It will be your club run by seniors for seniors, on a weekly basis.

“Our activity and hobby clubs might play host to music, bingo or guest speakers. Equally we may organise trips – to, for example, indoor bowls, garden centres, days out, theatres and special events.

“The success of such a venture will simply succeed or fail by the level of support it receives from older people themselves. Which is why on Thursday 8th of February at 10am we are inviting local Seniors 55+ to come along  to the Riverside Club and join with others for a cuppa and chat, enjoy a presentation of a wide range of happy and perhaps funny activities that are aimed to improve the health, well-being and quality of life of seniors in Melksham.

“We shall have an excellent opportunity to discuss ways  of formulating an exciting range of future programmes that hopefully will fulfil the aspirations of older people in Melksham.

“Do come along and support the small band of local volunteers, whose ambitions are to help tackle loneliness, support making Melksham an age-friendly community and give all the 55+ community the opportunity to identify ways of improving our own lifestyles and that of our friends and neighbours. Our key ambition is to ensure that no older person in Melksham needs to feel lonely.

“See you at the Riverside on Thurs. 8th Feb. at 10am to 12.30pm, and do help us all to make new friends.”