02:38AM, Wednesday 02 July 2014
A weekly gathering has been set up at St Luke’s Parish Centre to help to combat loneliness, writes Rebecca Boland.
Friendship Project meetings will include refreshments and visits from guest speakers.
On Thursday, June 26, 30 people met at the centre in Norfolk Road.
The centre hopes to open its doors to more residents over the upcoming months, and plan day-trips for visitors.
The project was originally set up by Rev Sally Lynch and Baljit Gill to help a group of Asian ladies gain confidence in British culture.
It will now broaden to include all members of the community.
Sally said: "It's really an opportunity for people in the Belmont Ward to have a chance to get together once a week, have some refreshments and talk to each other."
She asks anyone who think they know someone at risk of loneliness to call the centre on 01628 622 733 and leave a message.
Royal Borough councillor Philip Love (Con, Belmont) said the meetings are a perfect opportunity to get people together.
According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, there are 800,000 people in England who are chronically lonely.
Comments
Editor's Picks
Most read
Top Ten Articles
Two men suffered stab wounds - with one in a serious condition in hospital - after an incident of grievous bodily harm in Maidenhead early this morning (Saturday).
A new era is on the horizon for Maidenhead as the state-of-the-art Braywick Leisure Centre opens this weekend, but the move will see the town wave goodbye to a key part of its history after 45 years.
© Copyright 2016 Baylis Media Limited All right reserved
