A new initiative serving up hot meals and warm company has officially launched in West Yorkshire. The Royal Voluntary Service marked the opening of its latest community lunch club, welcoming around 24 diners to Holmfirth Civic Hall for a special launch event.
A Warm Welcome and a Hearty Meal
Guests were greeted with a hot drink and an address from Steve Amos, Royal Voluntary Service Director of Health & Community. The event featured a light-hearted quiz before attendees sat down to a freshly prepared, two-course meal. The main course was a classic steak pie with potatoes and vegetables, followed by a traditional rice pudding.
This weekly menu is created from scratch by a dedicated team of ten Royal Voluntary Service volunteers. After lunch, the fun continued with a game of bingo, and everyone left with a slice of homemade two-tier cake, baked specially by one of the volunteers.
Building Community Connections
The Holmfirth Community Lunch Club will run every Monday from 11.30am to 1pm. It aims to provide a friendly, social environment where people from the area can enjoy a home-cooked meal and good company.
Diane Phillips, the club's Volunteer Coordinator, shared her joy: “It was amazing to open our doors to the community for the launch of this new lunch club and so rewarding to see the smiles on people’s faces as they enjoyed their meal and laughed with one another.”
The Power of Volunteering
Steve Amos emphasised the crucial role volunteers play. “We see time and time again the impact that volunteers can have in local communities, and it is volunteers who make opening new clubs like this possible,” he said. “It’s just fantastic to see the people of Holmfirth come together to support those in the community who are older or more vulnerable.”
The Royal Voluntary Service runs numerous community groups and events nationwide, all powered by volunteer support. These clubs help people pursue hobbies and interests socially, enabling them to maintain old friendships and forge new ones.
The Holmfirth club is now welcoming new members. Anyone interested in attending can contact Volunteer Coordinator Diane Phillips via email at diane.phillips@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.
For those inspired to give back, local volunteering opportunities can be explored on the digital platform GoVo.org.
