Two friends from Oldham have started a 'coffee and chat' club for senior members of the community in a bid to alleviate loneliness and isolation.

Anne Thompson and Diane Andrews decided to launch their club for older members of their community who had become lonely and isolated during the pandemic.

Ms Andrews said: “We conceived the idea of a coffee and chat group as we recognise that the older members of our community needed some TLC.

“We live in Woodhouses which was once a predominately pig farming area where most of the cottages were occupied by farm workers and their families.

“But as the pig farms have now all gone and new houses have been built, a younger demographic has moved in and the church in the village has been without a vicar for some time.

“There are no social connections there like there once was.

“We felt that social interaction would help their mental and physical wellbeing as many had not been out of the house since lockdown.”

The two got to work planning a way to connect with vulnerable and elderly people in the area when Woodhouses Cricket Club offered their venue as a meeting place.

The Oldham Times: The 'coffee and chat' club received a generous donation from two charities to help fund day trips.The 'coffee and chat' club received a generous donation from two charities to help fund day trips.

And since the group’s inception in March 2022, up to 30 local residents from Woodhouses and Failsworth now meet at the cricket club every Wednesday between 10am and 12pm.

However, the group does more than eat cake and chatter with the pair organising ‘sit down yoga’ sessions to improve health and mobility and numerous activities for the group to enjoy.

Ms Andrews said: “Everyone loves it and enjoys the company and the exercise.

“Some of our members have said that they had not been anywhere for ages after the pandemic, and we can see how much our little group has enhanced their mental and physical wellbeing.

“I am a carer for my husband who has Parkinson's disease and he comes along with me so that we are both getting some social interaction as being a carer can be quite isolating.

“Some of our other members are carers too and getting out for just a short break can be such a relief.”

The non-profit group has been applying for grants to help fund the group and has so far received a £100 donation from the Rotary Club of Failsworth and Hollinwood and a £500 donation from McCarthy and Stone which means they can now start planning days out and theatre trips.

The group recently invited two Police Liaison Officers to advise members on how to keep safe in their homes and avoid phone scams.