On Wednesday 11th June during Loneliness Awareness Week (9th–15th June) we partnered with Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove (AUKWSBH) to host a special afternoon of social connection, food, and entertainment at AUKWSBH Lavinia House in Horsham.
Members of the local community came together to enjoy a free afternoon tea, featuring a delightful selection of sandwiches and traditional scones served with clotted cream and jam. The treats were part of the our HILS Tea Pack range, generously funded by donations from the Horsham Lions. The joyful atmosphere was further lifted by live musical entertainment from Graham, creating a lively and joyful environment for all who attended.
The event saw a fantastic turnout, with attendees not only enjoying good company but also benefiting from free blood pressure readings courtesy of the Prevention Assessment Team. In addition, local neighbourhood wardens stopped by to offer their support, reinforcing the sense of community spirit.
Rachel Pawley, Deputy Communications & Engagement Manager at HILS shared her thoughts on the success of the event:
“It was wonderful to see so many members of the community come together at the AUKWSBH centre in Horsham to enjoy an afternoon of food and entertainment. Everyone was in great spirits, and for some, it was their first visit to the centre. Events like this are essential for encouraging people to connect, meet new friends, and simply have a good time.”
Hayley Dower, Senior Community Developer- AUKWSBH Horsham Locality added:
“We wanted to hold an event for older people to come together and connect with one another in an enjoyable environment and we are so pleased that we were able to achieve this with the assistance of HILS.
There is a real need in our communities to help combat loneliness and from today’s event we hope to see the attendees return and continue any social connections which they have made today.
We couldn’t have delivered such a fantastic afternoon without the dedication of our AUKWSBH volunteers, whose hard work helped make it a success on the day.”
This event highlighted the importance of social connection, reducing loneliness, and creating welcoming spaces for people to come together. With such a positive response from all the attendees, it is clear that community gatherings like these play a vital role in helping to support individuals.
Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove help improve the lives of older people. To learn more, visit www.ageuk.org.uk/westsussexbrightonhove, call 0800 019 1310 or email info@ageukwsbh.org.uk.
