2 weeks Ago
Free meals and membership at a dedicated over-50s centre will end next month. Tower House, a hub for the over-50s community in Brighton, will stop its free membership and meals at the end of April. This is due to the funding that covered these costs coming to an end.
St Vincent’s Centre, Brighton, also known as Tower House, usually requires members to pay a £5 club fee. This covers the cost of attending their sessions, which focus on being creative and active. A hot two-course meal, which usually costs £7 each, will also be ending at the same time.
When the funding stops, members will be required to pay a fee to join and benefit from the invaluable services and resources the centre provides to those in need, helping combat loneliness and isolation. The centre, which is a Grade II listed building, is open Monday to Friday and has a range of activities and services on offer, such as seated exercises, arts and crafts classes, and carer support. Centre manager, Nicki Freeman, is urging locals to take advantage of the offer before it ends later this year.
She said: "The funding we have been awarded for club fees and free meals is a great opportunity for those over 50 to come and see what our centre is about. "We’re here to combat loneliness in older people. "Our dedicated centre is a great place to start trying something new.
"We make sure that everyone who attends stays in their comfort zone and if they want to just come and sit and observe to see what we’re about, then now is the best time to do so." The centre also runs an open-to-all cafe which serves staples such as teas, coffee and cakes, and well-behaved four-legged friends are welcome too. Anyone wishing to learn more about the centre can visit the building on Towergate, or call Nicki on 0127 354 9604 to learn more.
Tower House sits within the wider St Vincent de Paul Society (England and Wales) which aims to tackle poverty in all its forms through person-to-person contact and befriending, regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, religion or any other circumstances..
