A community group launched to help tackle loneliness and bring people together in Melksham is celebrating its first anniversary after a year of steady growth.
The Social and Skills Club, held monthly at That Meeting Space in the Market Place, was launched by Melksham home care provider Abney & Baker to provide a relaxed and welcoming place for people to meet, make friends and take part in a range of activities.
Open to everyone, the club offers bingo, quizzes, arts and crafts, board games and seasonal events, with activities changing each month based on feedback from members.
“The main aim was to bring the local community together and offer a welcoming place for people to connect,” said Paula Eaves, community branch manager at Abney & Baker. “Before the club started, we were running activities within the office, such as a Macmillan coffee morning and raffles, and they proved so popular that they outgrew the space.
“That success made us realise there was a need for something bigger and more regular, somewhere local that people could come to for company rather than feeling isolated at home. The club was created as a space for our clients and the wider community to meet, make friends and enjoy some companionship in a friendly, informal setting.”
Over the past year, members have taken part in activities including painting workshops, cake decorating, card-making, charity fundraising and themed events such as Easter bingo and a Christmas party.
One of the painting sessions prompted a member to rediscover a long-forgotten hobby.
Paula said, “One highlight was a ‘create your own masterpiece’ painting session, where a member told us it made her ‘feel like a child again’ because she had so much fun and felt free to be creative. She went home, took all her old paints out of the shed and spent four or five weeks painting constantly, rediscovering a hobby she had let go of, which was incredibly rewarding to hear.”
The club is run by Paula and a team of volunteer carers, who organise activities, support members and welcome newcomers. The organisers are also keen to hear from anyone interested in volunteering.
Looking back on the club’s first year, Paula said, “The club has become a place where people know they have somewhere to go and someone to see. We’re regularly welcoming new people, and over time we’ve seen friendships develop, with members looking forward to seeing familiar faces at each monthly session. For many, that regular point of contact and companionship has made a real difference to their everyday lives, helping to reduce feelings of loneliness and giving them something positive to anticipate.”
The club will celebrate its first anniversary with a party on Wednesday 19th August, featuring food, music and birthday cake. Organisers also plan to include an exercise session to introduce more active elements they hope to add to future meetings.
New members are welcome at the club on the third Wednesday of every month at That Meeting Space in the Market Place from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. For more details, call 01225 536400, email enquiries@abneyandbaker.com or visit: www.abneyandbaker.com
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