Oaklands receives £2,390 funding for Coffee Mornings in Birchfield, Yeovil

The Oaklands Surgery Patient Participation Group (PPG) has been running a coffee morning on Birchfield Road for the past 14 years, providing a vital space for those who may be suffering from social isolation to enjoy a chat and refreshments with like-minded individuals in their community. 10-18 people meet each fortnight, and many attendees are collected from home via the surgery’s community transport plan; an essential service as many of the participants would not otherwise be able to attend.

The funding received from Abri, a large housing provider, with over 40,000 homes and assets, will allow Oaklands Surgery to continue to provide a transport provision for those in need and facilitate a move to a larger meeting space at Birchfield Community Hall. By relocating the event, more people will be able to attend and new activities to further enhance participants wellbeing can also take place.

Frances Stephens, Health & Wellbeing Coach Lead at Oaklands Surgery and Ryalls Park, said: “We can’t wait to move to a new larger venue, to be able to invite more people to enjoy spending time together. We know that the coffee mornings have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of this amazing group and our aim is for it to continue, grow and make a difference to all their lives.

“For some of our participants, the coffee mornings can be the only face to face contact they have with others, and for many of those who attend, it also provides their main carers a chance for respite too, something that is often overlooked as a positive outcome of this kind of project. The importance of the group to those who attend, is evident in the fact that some of the original group from 14 years ago still attend, and are still enjoying a slice of cake and good conversation. Abri’s funding will help us to invite many more people to this special group.”

The community fund is part of Abri’s commitment to empowering lives and creating thriving communities, making them better places to live. Abri has awarded over £90,000 from its community fund to support local organisations and projects between April 2022-March 2023.

Applications are decided on a resident panel made up of customers and those living in its communities. Sarah O’Mara, an Abri customer and panel member, said: “The Oaklands coffee mornings clearly have a hugely positive effect on the people they touch, so the fact that there’s chance to expand its provision and offer the service to more people in the community is only good news. We know that social isolation isn’t good for people’s mental health so an event like this that has the added bonus of providing free transport to and from the venue is even better, and can give confidence to those members of the community who might otherwise feel too vulnerable or isolated or to attend.”

When the coffee mornings are expanded, instructions on how to get involved will be posted on Ryalls Park & Oaklands Health Coaching Facebook page here, alternatively, prospective participants can call on 01935 434000 for more information.

Other successful applications for Abri’s Community Fund include:

£3,000 for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust’s Budding Balconies project.

£3,000 for Lord Taverner’s charity for their “Wicketz” Programme Southampton

Abri’s community fund opens for applications four times a year, and organisations can apply for up to £3,000 to support a project in one of Abri’s communities. The next application window is 1-31 October 2023.

Projects with a cost-of-living focus will be prioritised. Application forms, and window dates are available on Abri’s website.