“For me, the most important thing has always been that nobody should feel that they are facing loneliness alone”

A group combating loneliness is celebrating 10 years in Northampton.

Good Companions Cuppa Lunch Club was founded by former Northampton Chronicle and Echo receptionist Karen Gardner, who invited four elderly women for tea and homemade cakes. The women did not know each other, but were lonely after the death of their partners.

A decade on, the Good Companions club regularly welcomes up to 100 people and 25 volunteers to its fortnightly meetings at Broadmead Community Church. Ages range from 50-years-old to those in their late 90s, with members coming from across Northampton.

A party was held to celebrate 10 years of the group | Submitted

placeholder image — A party was held to celebrate 10 years of the group | Submitted

The club, which is registered with Age UK, works alongside other organisations to help people who may be struggling with isolation, including receiving referrals from GPs, social prescribers, charities and other community organisations.

And the group recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a party and silent disco.

Karen said: “When I look back at how it started, with four lonely women sitting around a table with a cup of tea and some homemade cake, it’s quite incredible to see what Good Companions has become.

“For me, the most important thing has always been that nobody should feel that they are facing loneliness alone. The activities and entertainment are wonderful, but ultimately it is the friendships, laughter and sense of belonging that keep people coming back.

Volunteers and founder Karen Gardner, third left | Submitted

“Our motto is ‘Good Companions - where new friends become old friends’. We encourage splinter groups to meet outside of Good Companions, to forge good and lasting relationships.”

The club is completely self-funded with all money going to making members feel special. This includes roses and chocolates for Valentine’s Day, gifts for Mother’s and Father’s Day, Easter eggs and a tin of biscuits for Christmas.

Karen says Christmas is particularly special, with a visit from Santa and trips to see the pantomime at the Royal & Derngate. This year some 30 members are also visiting the Thursford Christmas Spectacular in Norfolk.

Over the years there’s also been boat trips along the River Nene, coach trips to the Black Country Living Museum, Bletchley Park, Coton Manor and Bedford River, to name a few.

The silent disco was a huge success | Submitted

But there is also plenty to do at the fortnightly meetings, with musicians, international pianists, Bollywood dancers, fish and chip weeks and pizza weeks.

Karen added: “There have been countless silly, funny and memorable moments that have given our members something to look forward to and, perhaps most importantly, somewhere they feel they belong.

“We currently have around 150 registered members, although many more people have come through our doors over the past decade.

“We are much more than a social club. Loneliness is a serious issue that can affect both physical and mental health, and research has compared the health impact of loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.