LUNCH club organisers are planning Christmas and Easter celebrations thanks to the support of Knutsford Town Council.

Canute Lunch Club caters for elderly people in the Knutsford area, and runs twice a week.

The average club member is in their 80s or 90s, with one of the members due to celebrate their 101st birthday.

“Several of our clients are registered as partially-sighted, and value the opportunity to get out of their houses twice a week and socialise,” said club treasurer Yvonne Baker.

“For many this is their only opportunity for company during the week.

“Our clients value the contact with others and complain when we shut down for any holiday periods.”

The club sought a grant of £450 from the town council to fund two celebratory events in addition to its normal lunches.

“The first is to provide a free Christmas lunch will all the additional celebratory trimmings for our clients,” added Yvonne.

“This includes entertainment and giving them a Christmas hamper, which they can dip into over the Christmas period.

“The second is to give each of them an Easter card and a suitable gift to take home for the Easter break.”

The town council agreed to support the grant application by the club, which is also planning to run two luncheon outings during the summer.

“£200 would come from our own funds to subsidise two outings this summer, when we are unable to use our usual cooking and room facilities at Toft Cricket Club,” said Yvonne.

“The estimated cost would be £400 for the two outings, and we would aim to charge our clients at 50 per cent of the cost, leaving a £200 cost for the subsidy contribution.

“The overall aim is to enhance our clients’ enjoyment of the club and make them feel part of the wider community, especially at Christmas and Easter.”

Yvonne added that while the club aimed to provide a lunch club and social facilities for elderly people in the Knutsford area, in practice it would also take younger clients who have a need for our services and an ability to socialise independently with others.

The club provides transport to and from the cricket club using the KCTA minibus.