Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club
Supported by Uckfield & District Lions Club
Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club provides supportive, social and welcoming lunch & tea outings for older, mainly housebound people, living in the District of Uckfield. Transport is provided, collecting members, some in wheelchairs, from their homes & taking them to various venues. This enables them to get out of their homes, which they ordinarily find challenging, and be amongst ‘friends’ in a happy environment where they can relax, exchange news of their lives and enjoy what has been organised for them.
Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club enjoy their Christmas lunch at Barnsgate
Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club enjoy Harvest Tea at Rocks Park School, Uckfield
Uckfield Mayor joins Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club for their Christmas Lunch
Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club enjoy Harvest Tea at Rocks Park School
Thirty two members & helpers of the Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of entertainment & Harvest Tea at Rocks Park School on 7th October 2015.
This afternoon has now been an annual trip out for the Club for many years. Members were welcomed at the school by a number of children & given a cup of tea or coffee. This year the children sang harvest songs accompanied by recorders & xylophones , while two children also entertained us with two tunes on their violins. The entertainment concluded with a rendition of Happy Birthday as three members of the Club were celebrating their birthdays.
Following the entertainment, children served the Harvest Tea which comprised of sandwiches with various fillings, followed by a wonderful selection of cakes. All the sandwiches & cakes had been made by the children. SEE PRESS RELEASE
The Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club held their Christmas lunch at Barnsgate Manor on 15th December 2014
Fourty five members & guests enjoyed an excellent Christmas lunch with all the trimmings. Guests included the Uckfield mayor Ian Smith, a number of Uckfield Lions, wives & husbands. Following the lunch guests were entertained with musical entertainment of well known & Christmas songs, to which everybody sang along. A raffle was held with the first prize of a hamper donated by Uckfield Funeral Care in Uckfield, which was won by Richard Bently.
The Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club meet twice a month, going out for lunches & tea afternoons at Margaret House.
Club members enjoying the TN22 Choir at Margaret House followed by afternoon tea on 22nd October 2014
Club members enjoying an afternoon of Harvest tea & entertainment at Rocks Park School on 8th October 2014
Members enjoying an afternoon of tea & entertainment at the Older Peoples Day held at Downlands Court Peacehaven September 2014
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Members enjoying a tea outing Members at the
50th anniversary lunch
The Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club celebrated its 50th Birthday in March 2014. The Club was formed in March 1964 by the British Red Cross & met twice a month at the Red Cross Hall in Selby Road. The meetings comprised of crafts, games, exercises & lunch. In 2007 the Housebound Club became independent from the British Red Cross & moved its meeting venue to the Luxford Centre. The Club has always had a loyal & dedicated team of volunteers that has made it such a success over so many years.
With the current team of volunteers, including members of the Uckfield & District Lions Club, the club is going from strength to strength. In 2013 it was decided to make a small name change for the club and is now called Uckfield Housebound and Friendship Club and is proving so popular that by March 2014 the Club has a membership of 31 with a waiting list for membership. The main reason for the limitation on membership is the transport. Uckfield Lions minibus is used for Wheelchair users and people with walking difficulties and another mini bus for the more able members and both are full.
At the beginning of 2013, with a new Committee & team of helpers, the Club moved forward again with another "new beggining". The format of the meetings were changed, which continue to be held twice a month on the second and forth Wednesdays. Members are taken out to lunch on the 2nd Wednesdays, visiting various venues such as Barnsgate Manor, Crockstead Farm Hotel and Pevensy bay. On most 4th Wednesdays the club is fortunate to be able to use the wonderful facilities at Margaret House Lealands Drive, Uckfield where Housebound members are joined by residents of Margaret house for an afternoon tea, with various forms of entertainment. This again proves popular as many of housebound members have friends living in Margaret House. The Club also visits other venues such as schools, garden centres & other residential care homes.
The Club is run by a Committee comprising of a Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and eight committee members.The committee includes a number of Uckfield Lion members, Housebound & Friendship members & other volunteers. The committee meet two to three times a year to discuss the progress of the club, any improvements that can be made & review the finances of the Club. Members currently pay an annual membership subscription & pay a contribution to lunch outings.
Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club is constantly seeking to raise money in order to provide the transport & costs of outings to these less able people within our community
Further information on the Uckfield Housebound & Friendship Club or to enquire about joining, contact David Cole on 01825 764755 or davidcole@dj12345.plus.com
