After the success of the Trust’s Senior Spireites sessions, Olly & Andrea Parkinson opened the HUB up on Christmas Day to those in isolated positions over the festive period.
Olly said: “Speaking to some of the seniors, some of them told us they wouldn’t see anybody on Christmas Day.
“We opened from 9.30 to 11.30am with tea, coffee, mince pies and biscuits, and we wrapped up some presents for them. It was definitely worth it.
“Some needed it more than others, I think it was a success. We opened it to all the adult wellbeing groups.”
On the importance of opening on the 25th, Olly added: “It’s just having somebody there that they know they can come and see.
“I know one of them had made plans with one of her friends, but if she hadn’t, she would’ve been on her own. Knowing we were there, it gave her that comfort.”
Senior Spireites are currently running at almost full capacity, and it was after one of the sessions that the decision to open on Christmas Day was made.
Cynthia Bruce, who attended with her husband Philip, said: “It was very nice. Olly & Andrea opened it up. We sat & chatted; we talked about all sorts of things.
“The (Senior Spireites) sessions are absolutely fantastic. We were over the moon.”
Brenda Clark is a regular attendee of Senior Spireites sessions and came to the HUB on Christmas Day morning before enjoying a Christmas dinner at the SMH Group Stadium later in the day.
On the benefits of the HUB being open at Christmas, Brenda said: “We enjoyed it – it was nice.
“It was very good and it was kind of them do it, because there’s a lot of people on their own.
“I call the people at the Trust a ‘second family’. Christmas is a family occasion so it was nice to be able to spend it with them.
“If they do it again next year, I’d definitely come again.
“Because there are no buses running on Christmas Day, people who wanted to come probably weren’t able to make it.
“You feel left out when you’ve got no family. I come to everything on around here. Being at the stadium was the favourite part of my day.”
For more information on Senior Spireites sessions, please email: oliverparkinson@spireitestrust.org.uk or olibarnes@spireitestrust.org.uk
Alternatively, you can ring the Trust on 01246 925115.
