McCarthy Stone donates £500 to support Failsworth 'coffee and chat' club

In recognition of its outstanding contribution to support the wellbeing of local older people, a ‘coffee and chat’ club in Failsworth has received a £500 donation from the McCarthy Stone Foundation.

Started by two friends from Oldham, the club provides both support and a friendly meeting place for senior members of the community who might otherwise find themselves isolated.

Based at Woodhouses Cricket Club on Medlock Road, the group hosts weekly meetups every Wednesday between 10am and 12pm to help alleviate loneliness by encouraging social interaction over coffee and cake.

Alongside treats and chatter, the group also offers ‘sit down yoga’ sessions to help improve physical health and mobility.

According to Age UK, 1.4 million older people in the UK are often lonely1 and initiatives like the ‘coffee and chat’ club can help overcome this by encouraging new friendships and improving self-confidence.

Celebrating two years since its inception, the non-profit group has continuously thrived, with more than 70 locals now meeting at the cricket club every week.

It funds all staffing and overheads itself and relies heavily on donations and grants to help keep the club going.

Spotting an opportunity to help, the McCarthy Stone Foundation stepped in and donated £500 to be used towards utility bills.

The donation is just one of several being made as part of the retirement developer’s Happier, Healthier Project, which aims to provide financial assistance to community groups that help to support the independence and wellbeing of older people in the area.

Diane Andrews, co-founder of the club, said: “We want to say huge thank you to the McCarthy Stone Foundation for their generous donation.

"Anne and I came up with the idea of a coffee and chat group following the pandemic, as we knew many older members of our community hadn’t been out of their house since and felt lonely as a result.

“The group has become a key part of the Failsworth community, offering a welcoming environment where members can enjoy a brew and the company of like-minded individuals.

"Our official opening time is 10am, but most of our members are here by 9am, as we often have the heating on, so they like to escape the cold and waste no time in catching up with one another. T

"hey’re a great bunch, with our oldest members being 93 and 90.

"Using McCarthy Stone’s donation, we can continue to offer a safe meeting space for our members.”

The McCarthy Stone Foundation supports grassroots, volunteer led charitable causes that promote the health and wellbeing of older people.

It is the independent, registered charity of the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, McCarthy Stone, which has a new Retirement Living development, Sydney Grange, under construction on Ashton Road West in Failsworth.

Declan Fishwick, Business Development Manager at McCarthy Stone, said: “Supporting and engaging with the communities close to our developments is a key focus at McCarthy Stone and we are delighted, in partnership with the McCarthy Stone Foundation, to lend a helping hand to the ‘coffee and chat’ club in Failsworth, which has been a prominent feature in the town since its setup in 2022.

“As a company specialising in the development of friendly and welcoming communities for retirees, the happiness and welfare of older people is at the heart of everything we do.

"This makes initiatives such as this a great fit for us.

"We look forward to seeing the group continue its work in supporting the wider community through its range of activities.”

Designed to meet the specific needs of the over 60s, Sydney Grange will offer a mix of one and two-bedroom cost-effective retirement apartments, along with superb facilities to create a unique brand of retirement living in the local area with independence and community at its heart.

On-site communal spaces will include a well-appointed lounge and an attractive landscape garden to enjoy the company of friends, family, and new neighbours alike.

For peace of mind, a House Manager will be on-site during office hours to oversee the day-to-day running of the development, while 24/7 emergency call points and camera door entry offer additional reassurance.

Those wanting to take a closer look at the stylish interiors and the little details unique to Sydney Grange can take a look at the virtual tours, which are now available on the McCarthy Stone website, giving prospective buyers the opportunity to take a tour of the accommodation and social spaces.

Properties at Sydney Grange will be exclusively available through McCarthy Stone’s Shared Ownership scheme in partnership with Homes England, which offers a helping hand by reducing the upfront cost of a new retirement home, through providing a choice of ownerships up to 75%.

To find out more about Retirement Living at Sydney Grange, please call 0800 882 1829 or click here

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