Netherlee and Stamperland Church Monday Lunch Club

Who We Are The Monday Lunch Club has been running for 10 years and was started by Niall Illingworth. We meet every Monday from 11:00 AM to around 1:30 PM.

We are a not-for-profit group, which means we don’t make money from our activities. To help cover the cost of food, heating, and transport, we ask each member to pay £5 per week. Our club is run by kind, fully vetted, volunteers who all have experience working with older adults and contribute their time to help keep things running smoothly.

Who Can Join? Our members are people who have early-stage dementia or are experiencing some memory loss. They can be referred by family, friends, local residents, church members, or social services. We usually have 12-15 members at a time, but we currently have space for more.

To join, a family member or carer fills out a short form with emergency contact details, medical information, and some fun facts about the new member—like their hobbies, past jobs, and favourite holidays. This helps our volunteers start friendly conversations.

Getting Here The club is held at Netherlee and Stamperland Church. The main entrance is on Ormonde Avenue, and there is wheelchair access at the side entrance on Ormonde Drive. There are also accessible toilets available.

We offer pick-up and drop-off for members who live close to the church, but some families prefer to bring their loved one themselves. We ask that taxis not be used, as timing can sometimes be tricky.

What We Do

• Welcome Time: We start with tea, coffee, and homemade baking in a small hall, where members and volunteers chat and catch up.
• Activities: Some members play board games like dominoes and jigsaw puzzles, while others enjoy manicures. There’s also carpet bowling and putting (golf) in the church sanctuary.
• Fun & Games: At around 12:15 PM, everyone gathers in the main hall for a quiz, bingo, karaoke-style singing, or a fun exercise session to music.
• Lunch Time: Around 12:55 PM, we have a delicious homemade lunch of soup and sandwiches. In summer, we enjoy cold drinks, sandwiches, and a treat like ice cream or custard. We also like to send members home with a little snack for later.

Home time is at 1:30 PM.

Want to Know More? For more details, contact Charlie Curran at charlie_curran@hotmail.com or call 07725163788.