Sheffield charity waives club fee in bid to tackle loneliness

The Club is Age UK Sheffield’s membership scheme which offers opportunities to become more active, meet new people, enjoy excursions and learn and enhance ICT skills. The charity has changed its eligibility criteria and dropped the £25 annual fee to increase access to as many of the city’s over 50s as possible.

Jenny Dewsnap, Age UK Sheffield business and marketing manager, said it is the latest in a string of efforts designed at tackling and preventing loneliness and isolation in the city.

She said: “Our Club gives members the opportunity to become more active, meet new people and make full use of computer technology. This can be especially important because many older people suffer from technological exclusion. Learning computer skills enables them to share emails and photos with family and friends, have video chats, meet new people online or reconnect with old friends via social media sites.”

Other changes include working closely with community groups who are already delivering social activities and events, from lunch clubs to exercise classes, and registering them in a directory to make them more accessible.

Membership is open to anyone registered with a Sheffield GP aged 50 and over, a saving of £25.

For more information call 0114 250 2850, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/sheffield or call into Age UK’s information shop in Castle Square.