The official start of the Out and About Club was marked by a Sunday lunch at a local restaurant for 50+ diners in April 2015; and since then, the Club has gone from strength to strength. Almost eighteen months on, it now numbers 140 members. While affiliated to St Stephen’s Church for administrative purposes, this community Club has no religious purpose. However, it does represent just one small, yet significant element of the Church’s outreach activities, embracing (mainly) elderly residents within the parish and beyond and providing a welcome link between church and community.
In December 2014 just before the inauguration of the Club the following poem appeared in the church “SPIRE” magazine (which is circulated three times per year to over 3,000 homes in the parish including to residents on the Kingswood Estate):
Your Club Needs YOU!
Are you ready for this? It’s almost here!
Yes, it’s really for YOU; and it starts next year!
Do you like the seaside or country lanes;
concert, film, theatre or stained glass panes?
Carveries, picnics or scrumptious cream teas?
Through this brand new club you’ll partake of these!
Whether cold and rainy or warm with bright sun:
there’ll be laughter and friendship, gossip and fun!
Whether young or old, churchgoer or not;
black, white or mixed race, we care not a jot:
The “Out ‘n About” Club is open to ALL;
whether fat or thin, whether short or tall.
April 19th is our very first date;
for a three course lunch… we can hardly wait!
If you live on your own or feel a bit frail;
you’ll have transport to take you o’er hill and dale.
We’ve applied for funding, but there’s no guarantee:
Qué será será”, “what will be will be”!
If you’re ‘strapped for cash’ (as can be the case!!)
Then start saving now and “watch this space”!
