A CAM community centre has played host for several lunches with the aim of helping the most vulnerable in our community form new bonds.

At the GL11 Project centre in Fairmead, Neighbourhood Wardens provided an enjoyable two-course lunch and transport for 60 people over three separate events.

The aim of the event, funded with a grant from Age Concern UK, was to combat the loneliness elderly people often suffer as well as an opportunity to provide health and well-being and crime prevention information packs. In addition, funds were matched by Stroud District Council’s community safety partnership, who also helped out at the events.

Manager of the GL11 centre Ann Wheeler said the council was keen to see if the centre could accommodate people for the community lunches over the Christmas period.

"They seem to have very much enjoyed the social aspect of it but have also enjoyed the two-course meal provided for them," she said.

"What we want to do here at GL11 is find out what there needs are and react accordingly.

"It is very much a pivotal part of the support we provide here as people can come and raise their concerns. Making sure they have access to the right information and help.

"We are all about having and making a social experience, having fun and meeting up with new people."

Another planned purpose of the event was to encourage people from around the district to form friendships and contacts with each other.

In addition the lunches are hoped to expand the contacts for both the GL11 project and the Community Safety Partnership so that they can invite people to any future community events.

Stroud District Council health and wellbeing officer Dilys Warren said it was a good situation for everybody involved.

"It is good just to get people together who would otherwise be on their own," she said.

"We recognise that being lonely should not be an inevitable part of ageing and it is never too late to improve our communities well-being."