Eleanor Allan, the winner of this year’s Provost’s Caring Champion Award, goes above and beyond to provide weekly community connection for socially isolated elderly residents in Bishopbriggs.
Eleanor took over the organising and running of Woodhill Senior Citizens’ Lunch Club at Woodhill Evangelical Church in September 2021, providing a weekly community get together for around 50 elderly members. From 10.30am to 1.30pm every Wednesday, Eleanor and a team of volunteers provide refreshments and social activities for members, as well as serving up a delicious three course meal. Members can play scrabble or dominoes, read books or newspapers and enjoy some pampering by having their nails painted. There is also a chair aerobics class, spiritual talks and pamper sessions. Members receive regular visits from the church’s mothers and toddlers’ group, pupils from Westercleddens Primary and Bishopbriggs Academy and some four-legged friends (dogs and rabbits). Every August the members go on an outing to Largs where they get lunch and an opportunity to browse in the shops or take a walk along the prom.
The club is dementia friendly, and everyone is warmly welcomed and treated with dignity and respect. For many the club represents their only weekly outing, making a big difference in their lives. For one couple it has also been a dating service – the pair met at lunch club and recently announced their engagement!
Eleanor works extremely hard to ensure the club is well organised; she contacts every member on a Tuesday evening to ensure they are coming along to lunch club and to arrange transport for those who require it. She dedicates a great deal of time and energy to the club to ensure everyone attends has a wonderful experience.
Provost Gillian Renwick said, “What really came through in Eleanor’s nomination for this year’s award, was just what Eleanor means to the members of the lunch club. She treats them like family and is completely dedicated to supporting them and ensuring they have access to vital community connection every week. She has given so many people who have struggled with social isolation a new lease of life. It was a joy to meet Eleanor, to present her with this year’s Caring Champion Award and to thank her for providing a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
Eleanor said, “I love our club, it’s a very friendly place, and I see how vital it is to the elderly ladies and gents who come along each week. I get so much out of it, and I love working alongside my fellow volunteers. I am grateful for my lovely certificate and quaich and I feel very honoured to have been chosen to receive this award.”
Woodhill Senior Citizens’ Lunch Club is currently looking for volunteers! Anyone interested in joining Eleanor and the team should contact office@woodhill.org.uk or call 0141 772 4283.
