Popular Ipswich pub The Kingfisher is helping to beat social isolation in the wake of lockdown, by joining the Meet Up Mondays network.
Penny Youngs-Debnam, landlady of the Kingfisher pub in Ipswich, where a new Meet Up Mondays event is being held Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)
The pub, in Hawthorn Drive, is now holding a regular get-together from 9.30am to 11.30am every Monday for anyone who is feeling fed up with being on their own and wants to make new friends.
Landlady Penny Youngs-Debnam is organising the meet-ups together with social prescribers at Hawthorn Drive Surgery.
“I think it’s very important, especially in these times, to have these meet-ups,” Mrs Youngs-Debnam said.
Debbie Finch of Hawthorn Drive Surgery in Ipswich is an organiser of the new Meet Up Mondays at The Kingfisher pub Picture: DEBBIE FINCH (Image: DEBBIE FINCH)
“One woman said to me that she has no contact with anybody.”
MORE: Emergency funding for Rural Coffee CaravanThe meet-ups happen before the pub opens for the day, and are in a separate area, with free hot drinks and biscuits as well as friendly chat.
Debbie Finch, a social prescriber at the surgery, said: “During lockdown myself and my colleague Vicky were calling patients to ensure they had access to food and medication. A lot of what came out of those calls was, a lot of people don’t see another human for days, or sometimes weeks or months.
Vicky Vincent of Hawthorn Drive Surgery in Ipswich is an organiser of the new Meet Up Mondays at The Kingfisher pub Picture: VICKY VINCENT (Image: VICKY VINCENT)
“We became concerned, as the days were becoming shorter, that some patients would be sitting indoors with the curtains closed from 4pm.
MORE: 17,000 older people in Suffolk feel lonely“It played on my mind so I approached the wonderful Meet Up Mondays (Rural Coffee Caravan) and Penny from The Kingfisher. Last Monday was our first meet-up and it was wonderful.
“Penny had the log fire going and, although we only had a handful of visitors, the chit chat was flowing. During the meet-up we were also able to signpost a patient to outside organisations.”
People will be put in bubbles of six based on interests, and you do not have to be a patient at Hawthorn Drive.
You can just go along to the meet-up, but if you have queries, you can call The Kingfisher on 01473 680300.
For more details on Meet Up Mondays, visit the website.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here