Leeds Lunch Clubs Receive Funding to Support Older People

Programme aims to provide meals and reduce loneliness across Leeds

Leeds Community Foundation, in partnership with Leeds City Council’s Public Health team, continues its support for lunch clubs across the city through the Lunch Clubs programme. Now in its 11th year since establishment in 2016, the initiative focuses on providing hot midday meals and social activities for older people in Leeds.

In 2026, funding was awarded to 87 lunch clubs, with the aim of supporting approximately 4,000 older residents. These clubs not only offer nutritional meals but also contribute to improving wellbeing and reducing social isolation among their members.

Programme Background and Impact

Since its inception, the Lunch Clubs programme has provided over 900 grants to community organisations running lunch clubs throughout Leeds. The partnership between Leeds Community Foundation and Leeds City Council’s Public Health team has been instrumental in sustaining these services for older people.

The lunch clubs serve as important community hubs where older individuals can access hot meals and participate in additional wellbeing and social activities. These efforts address key issues such as nutrition and loneliness, which are significant concerns for the elderly population.

Organisations Receiving Funding in 2026

The following organisations were awarded funding to run one or more lunch clubs in Leeds during 2026:

• Aireborough Voluntary Services to the Elderly
• Alkhidmat Centre
• Armley Helping Hands Luncheon Club
• Association of Blind Asians
• BEA OWLS
• BEAT – Belonging Empowering & Thriving
• Beetey Din
• BIEWA, to Belle Isle Senior Action
• Brackenwood Community Association
• Bramley Elderly Action
• Burmantofts Community Friends
• Chapel Allerton Town Street Lunch Club
• Coffee Pot Memory Cafe
• Cross Gates & District Good Neighbours Scheme
• Hamwattan Centre
• Headingley Methodist Luncheon Club
• Holbeck Together
• Kushy Nannas Womes Group
• Leeds Black Elders Association
• Leeds Irish Health and Homes
• Leeds Kosher Kitchen CiC
• Lychee Red
• Manorfield Hall
• MHA Communities Farsley
• MHA Communities Horsforth
• MHA Communities Pudsey
• MHA Communities Rothwell & District
• MHA Communities South Leeds
• Moor Allerton Everyone Cares
• Moorside Luncheon Club
• Moortown Baptist Day Centre
• Morley Elderly Action
• Namaste
• New Wortley Community Association
• Next Stop Cafe
• Oakwood Luncheon Club
• Old Farnley & District Community Association
• Older People’s Action in the Community
• Otley Action for Older People
• Polish Day Centre
• Pudsey Community Project
• Richmond Hill Elderly Action
• Sawan Vihar
• Seacroft Friends and Neighbours
• Shantona Women and Family Centre
• Silver Lining Luncheon Club
• St Chad’s Lunch Club
• St John’s Methodist Lunch Club
• Sumangal Luncheon Club
• Swarcliffe Good Neighbours Scheme
• The Conservation Volunteers
• Trinity Network

Some organisations received funding for more than one lunch club, reflecting the diverse needs across different communities in Leeds.

For further details on the Lunch Clubs programme, visit the Leeds Community Foundation website.