Middletown, Pontrobert, Llandrinio clubs close

The recession has claimed its latest victims: three clubs which have become a key part of senior citizens’ lives in Middletown, Pontrobert and Llandrinio.

The local Healthy Living Clubs will end next week, with the charity running them blaming the economy’s problems resulting in funders tightening their purse strings. A fourth club in Llandinam, near Newtown, will also close.

Offering lunches along with advice about health, exercise, pensions and computers, Age UK Montgomeryshire said the clubs received funding for the first five years from the National Lottery, and a combination of fund-raising and other grants has kept it going since 2007. But the pot has run dry with no-one willing to pick up the annual shortfall of £40,000 to keep them running.

The charity is believed to have made several attempts to find new funding but has been unsuccessful, resulting in two people losing their jobs.

The clubs are open to anyone aged between 60-90 with organisers saying they provided a vital social hub for elder residents living in and around the communities. They also host arts and crafts and exercise classes; advice about using computers, health and pensions; with a mini-bus available to transport pensioners to and from the clubs.

Subscriptions paid £20,000 towards the costs of the clubs which reached £60,000 annually. Age UK may now look to run two of the clubs on a lesser scale using volunteers.