THE STARLET CLUB
ANNUAL REPORT 2021/22
31[st] MARCH 2022
Year at the Starlet Club
The Starlet club still has been unable to meet during the last year since Covid Struck in March 2020. Our members are all older people that are classed as vulnerable, and many are shielding due to long term health conditions. This has meant the charity isn’t operational as we haven’t been able to meet, we cannot use the kitchen in the community centre and the room where we meet is not big enough to accommodate social distancing regulations. We have not met or used any means of digital communication to stay in touch as our members do not have the skills or equipment to do so.
We have not sought any further funding and have consulted with the Halifax that had funded our current programme, we will complete our activities when we are back together.
Difficulties and challenges
Our members are ageing and due to Covid restrictions they are feeling vulnerable for the first time in their lives, this has been a real set back for us and we are finding it difficult to connect again.
Main Activities for Public Benefit
We as a charity have not been able to fully meet our public benefit requirements due to Covid restrictions and periods of lockdown.
The direct benefits for our members from our purposes should be that:
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Members enjoy social interaction with other members of their community each week.
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Members enjoy a hot meal.
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Members participate and enjoy a range of activities after their meal each week.
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The club is run in a local community centre that this fully accessible.
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We promote good physical and mental health among our members as we organise services and activities for our members, often providing their only social outlet.
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We promote the welfare of our members within the wider community. Serve as an information centre, share, and disseminate relevant information with local older people.
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Participate in research, consultations, exhibitions, lectures and training courses with members and volunteers benefiting.
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Enable local community and voluntary organisations to share information on services relevant to our members and provide information sessions to inform members of services available.
Benefits above can be demonstrated by our previous weekly attendance of up to 30 members, with volunteer roles within the club. Weekly meal and range of activities for older people to participate in from September to June every year. Older people in the Bessbrook area feel more connected to their community, they attend regularly, they benefit from information shared, their uptake of local services has increased, and they are staying active through regular exercise sessions.
Beneficiaries of the Starlet Luncheon club are;
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Women aged between 70 and 96.
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those living in Bessbrook and its surrounding areas.
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volunteers that wish to participate in helping the group.
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People living in residential care homes that wish to connect with the community.
Our Charity usually strives to make a positive impact on the Bessbrook
Community and our activities are working to benefit the public in our local area. We have in the past years been able to accept some individuals that have been referred by the local health trust and Southern Age Well Network as part of a wider social prescribing scheme.
Secretary – Pauline Rice