Under-threat club is a lifeline, say members

A club which aims to combat loneliness among older people needs to raise £28,000 to stay open.

Bexhill Senior Citizens Club, in East Sussex, fears it will have to close if it cannot restore the cladding on the 130-year-old former hotel where it is based.

Members said the club in Eversley Road, which has been running since 1962, is a "lifeline" and they would be devastated if it were to close.

The club is open to over 55s and runs sessions including dance, creative writing, knitting, arts and crafts as well as day trips.

"The club is alleviating loneliness and isolation in the senior citizen community," said Christine Nee, club secretary and volunteer.

"People aren't coming like they used to, we find a lot of elderly people are scared and shy to come out on their own."

The club said the building where it operates, a former hotel built in 1890, has been "ravaged by the weather and is in dire need of repair".

A spokesperson added: "If the building is not safe, we'd have to close.

"We have to try to save the building otherwise the club can't exist anymore."

The club, which is run solely by volunteers, has already worked to restore the roof and install new boilers but needs to reclad its outside walls which it said had damp issues.

Mary Wells, a member of the knit and natter club, said: "Most of us are widows and we're on our own.

"This is a lifeline for us. It's somewhere to go to meet people. We don't know what we'd do without it."

Carolyn Simmons, who has been going for 18 years, said: "The club is very important for us because we have a good old chatter. Sometimes, we don't do the knitting!"

Nina Gerlack also described the club as a "lifeline" and said it would be "dreadful for everyone" if it had to close.

The club said it had received donations from members but has also set up an online fundraiser to help meet its target.