Wonderful news for the club! We can now continue to provide transport for our existing club members who live in rurally isolated areas of Mid Devon and the Wellington District.

Many thanks to the Devon Community Foundation for their amazing guidance and support.

The Young at Heart Club, a not-for-profit organisation aimed at tackling loneliness among older people in Mid Devon, has been named the winner of Taylor Wimpey Exeter’s Community Trust initiative.

The campaign launched in April and offered a £1,000 donation to a charitable organisation or community group which was deemed most deserving of the money.

A total of 14 local good causes were nominated for the funding by members of the public and the Young at Heart Club was selected as the winner by Taylor Wimpey, which is building new homes at Rackenford Meadow in Tiverton.

Lloyd Yorke, Chairman of the Young at Heart Club, says: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as the recipient of the Community Trust grant and on behalf of our committee, staff and volunteers I would like to express our sincere thanks to Taylor Wimpey for this fantastic cash boost – and of course to everyone who nominated the Young at Heart Club in the competition.

“We all work very hard to help alleviate the debilitating effects that loneliness can bring to older people and £1,000 will go a long way to help us benefit the community of Tiverton and surrounding area. We will be opening a new club in Tiverton shortly and this money will enable us to equip the premises to a high standard and hence mirror the successful format we currently have at the Burlescombe Community Hall.”

Clare Brimble, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey Exeter, says: “Our Community Trust initiative generated a lot of interest locally and we’re absolutely delighted to name the Young at Heart Club as the beneficiary of the funding.

“The club provides a wonderful service for so many older people in the area and we’re thrilled that with our help it will be able to expand its services into Tiverton itself.

“We’d like to thank all the people who made nominations on behalf of the wealth of charitable organisations and community groups that are doing such valuable work in the Tiverton area.”

2017

The “Young at Heart Club” celebrated its

4^th Annual Open Day 

Lloyd Yorke (Chairman) said “It was our most successful event yet! Everyone enjoyed lots of Cake and Refreshments and watched a 35-minute film of the variety of activities our club members have enjoyed over the past 12 months. We are proud to provide one of the most affordable and enjoyable Day Services in the region”.

‘Cinema Experience for club members’

Members of the “Young at Heart Club” (a club for the over 60’s) are now benefitting from a ‘Cinema Experience’ in addition to the many activities they already receive each week.

The equipment was purchased thanks to funding from Devon and Somerset councillors and the Norman Family Trust. The Blu-ray/DVD player, DLP/3D Projector, 6 speaker 30 watt surround sound speakers plus a massive 10 feet screen provide the perfect cinema experience for those people who would not normally be able to get to their local cinema or feel anxious about mixing with large groups. The advantage is that members can relax and enjoy the film in a lovely spacious, safe building with people of the same age group. The club is fully licenced to show old and new film releases. “We are proud to be able to offer such a fantastic experience for our members, this enables us to add yet another unique activity to our clubs day service.”, said Lloyd Yorke (Chairman).

The first showing at our launch was greeted with a rapturous round of applause at the end. One club member commented “I can’t believe how good the quality was, it was just like being at the cinema…when do we have the next show?”

The equipment will also allow the club to invite guest speakers and provide educational and reminiscence opportunities.

Our annual Afternoon Tea event this year was very well attended by members, family and friends. It was a great opportunity to see the tremendous work the club provides throughout the year. A video was shown of the many activities our club members enjoy, which created lots of laughter!

Listen to the radio broadcast when Ben McGrail BBC Radio Somerset visited our club.

Click Here

The Young At Heart Club welcomed a visit from 3 owls. Members have never been so close to such wonderful creatures. The local press embraced this lovely moment and we thank the following for publicising the article;  Wellington Weekly,  Somerset Gazette and the Mid Devon Star.

HAPPY 106TH BIRTHDAY GEORGIE!

Georgie is our oldest club member who still enjoys the occasional Tot of Whisky.

She is still a Party Animal and very much "Young at Heart".

We love you lots Georgie!

The Young at Heart Club Chairman and Treasurer attended the Devon Community Foundations 20th Birthday celebration at Exeter Cathedral. It was a great evening in lovely surroundings. We were proud to be one of the many community groups represented.

We would like to thank our team of volunteers for their amazing contribution which ensures our club continues to grow and offer such fantastic activities for our older members of society.

The Young at Heart Club for the over 60’s celebrated its second annual event at the Burlescombe Community Hall. Members and Carers enjoyed cakes made by the club founder Diana who has a reputation for quality cooking and has won a World Gold Medal in Sugar Craft. The Chairman Lloyd Yorke gave a speech to thank the hard work and help from volunteers and updated members on some exciting new activities the club have planned for the next 12 months. Last year the club raised funds to purchase state of the art equipment to provide a Cinema Experience and they are fully licenced to show films both new and old, on a huge 10 feet screen with a 6 speaker surround sound cinema system. This is just one of the 30 or so activities provided by this “modern club for older people”.

The Young at Heart Club has seen the attendances double in the past 18 months and attracts older people living in Tiverton, Cullompton, and Wellington. The club runs on Mondays and Fridays 9:30am to 2:45pm and includes a delicious nutritious two course lunch. The charge for the day is only £15.00p, this low price is achievable because of the clubs “not-for-profit” status.

The Young At Heart Club received a donation from McCarthy and Stone, following an appeal in March for Wellington charities to come forward for donations.

The club, which celebrated its first birthday earlier this year, received the ‘lifeline’ donation to subsidise the cost of transport to bring its members to the club.

Read the full article HERE

The “Young at Heart Club” have welcomed a donation from the Devon Community Foundation of £2000.00. The cash will be used to support vulnerable older people, their Carers and family members, by providing transport to the club offering warm meals, activities and socialising opportunities to help reduce isolation and keep people safe and well this winter.

Muriel a member of the club from Wellington said, “Attending the Young at Heart club is wonderful, so stimulating especially for the older people who can’t drive and are provided with transport here. All the games are good, a kind of occupational therapy and we enjoy talking to each other because sometimes people can go weeks without meeting anyone especially during the colder winter months. It takes courage to make the first move to come but it’s definitely worth it”.

Laura Hewitt, Marketing Manager of the Devon Community Foundation added “It’s so brilliant that generous donors have helped us build this fund for people like Muriel to have a happier winter”.

Lloyd Yorke the club Chairman said “Our club is strictly not-for-profit and are dependent upon donations and grants to enable us to provide a valuable service to vulnerable older people in our community. This donation from DCF will allow us to keep our transport costs to an affordable level. This means older people who live in Wellington, Taunton, Tiverton, Cullompton and surrounding villages can benefit from a low price return trip to our club. Our day rate is one of the lowest in our region. We believe that Day Services should be affordable to all. Our club provides a fun-filled day for people to make new friends and enjoy activities and a two course lunch plus refreshments throughout the day”.

Since our launch 12 months ago the number of attendances to our club has risen from just 4.... to currently nearly 30 per week! We are one of the fastest growing clubs in the South West offering Day Services for the over 60's! We believe it is down to the variety of activities we offer and the friendliness within the club which has encouraged others to spread the word about how fantastic it is to be a member. We are a small not-for-profit club, aiming to provide fun and opportunities to socialise, which is needed to help lonely and isolated older people.

Local press have been pleased to promote the first anniversary of the Young at Heart club. Lloyd and Diana (Club Founders) have been amazed how quickly the membership has grown and has exceded their expectations. "We are proud to offer a place for older lonely people to meet and socialise".

Club members welcomed a visit from the Conservative Party candidate for Taunton Deane . Rebecca Pow joined in with some of our fun activities and spent time talking to members. You can read more about her visit via her website link www.rebeccapow.org.uk/news/elderly-club-young-heart

Did you hear us on the Radio?

Young at Heart Club co-founders appeared on 10 Radio recently and discussed the activities members enjoy at the club and talked about the clubs future plans.

Members of the Young at Heart Club enjoyed a fun day out at the Golf Driving Range in Sampford Peverell this month. Some had never hit a golf ball in their lives before but they all gave it a go and with some very impressive results.

The Young at Heart Club is a modern club for older people of all backgrounds and we like to push the boundaries when it comes to activities.

Members of our club have been busy preparing for Christmas by making decorations and their own place mats, which will be used at the Young At Heart Club Christmas Lunch and party. Everyone is very excited and are enjoying doing such imaginative, creative craftwork.

A special 95th birthday for one of our club members who created her own christmas table centre piece and what a good job she did too!

Many thanks to everyone who attended our first Carers Event of 2014. The reason for the event was to let family and carers know the activities we provide for their loved ones whilst in our care. We are so pleased with the feedback and positive comments from the carers who attended our Tea Party on 9th October 2014.To read some comments about our club click here.