Leeds Lunch Clubs Receive Funding to Support Older People

Programme marks 10 years of providing meals and social activities

Leeds Community Foundation, in partnership with Leeds City Council’s Public Health team, has continued its support for lunch clubs across the city through the Lunch Clubs programme. Established in 2016, the initiative is now in its tenth year, aiming to provide hot midday meals and social activities to older residents in Leeds.

In the current year, funding was awarded to 91 lunch clubs, which are expected to support approximately 6,000 older people. These clubs not only provide nutritional meals but also offer wellbeing and social activities designed to help reduce loneliness among their members.

Programme impact and history

Since its inception, the Lunch Clubs programme has made over 810 grants to community organisations running lunch clubs across Leeds. The partnership between Leeds Community Foundation and Leeds City Council’s Public Health team has played a key role in sustaining these services over the past decade.

Organisations receiving funding

The following organisations have been awarded funding to operate lunch clubs in various communities throughout Leeds. Some organisations manage multiple lunch clubs:

• Age UK Leeds
• MHA Communities Pudsey
• Aireborough Voluntary Services to the Elderly (AVSED)
• MHA Communities South Leeds
• Al-Khidmat Centre
• Middleton Elderly Aid
• Armley Helping Hands
• Moor Allerton Elderly Care
• Association of Blind Asians
• Moorside Tara Community Centre
• Beetey Din
• Moortown Baptist Day Centre
• BIEWA, to Belle Isle Senior Action – BISA
• Morley Elderly Action
• Brackenwood Community Association
• Namaste
• Bramley Elderly Action
• New Wortley Community Association
• Burmantofts Community Friends
• Next Stop Cafe
• Chapel Allerton Town Street Lunch Club
• North Kirklees & Morley Circuit
• Cross Gates & District Good Neighbours’ Scheme
• Oakwood Luncheon Club
• The Old Fire Station
• Old Farnley & District Community Association
• Hamara Healthy Living Centre
• Older People’s Action in the Community (OPAL)
• Hamwattan Centre
• Older Wiser Local Seniors (OWLS)
• Headingley Methodist Luncheon Club
• Otley Action for Older People
• Holbeck Together
• Pudsey Community Project
• HOPS – Hawksworth Older People’s Services
• Richmond Hill Elderly Action
• Involve
• Sawan Vihar
• Leeds Black Elders Association
• Seacroft Friends and Neighbours
• Leeds Irish Health and Homes
• Silver Lining Luncheon Club
• Leeds Kosher Kitchen CiC
• South Leeds Team Ministry Charity Limited
• Leeds West Hunslet Salvation Army Lunch Club
• St Chad’s Lunch Club
• Lingfields Living Local
• St John’s Methodist Lunch Club
• Lychee Red Sumangal Group
• MHA Communities – Rothwell & District
• Swarcliffe Good Neighbours Scheme
• MHA Communities Farsley
• The Conservation Volunteers
• MHA Communities Horsforth
• Wetherby In Support of the Elderly

The funding aims to maintain and enhance the provision of meals and social opportunities, which contribute to the health and wellbeing of older people across Leeds.

For further information on the programme and its impact, visit the Leeds Community Foundation website.