The OSM has recently gained an award from the National Lottery as part of the levelling up fund that will enable the number of Lunch Club meals provided for people in the town, who are isolated, sick, disabled or elderly, to increase by 60 on top of the original 120. The service will extend to twice a week, Wednesdays and Fridays, to accommodate the extra deliveries made by a dedicated team of volunteers.
The Lunch Club provides not only a vital service in the town, replacing the long defunct Meals on Wheels service, but also a lifeline to many people who would otherwise have no contact with anyone outside the home.
The grant will also cover the cost of extra kitchen equipment to make the production of the food more efficient, as well as contributing towards energy saving measures to reduce ever-spiralling energy bills.
Already, insulation has been installed between the upper rooms and the downstairs cafe to retain heat and aid soundproofing, and further plans are in the pipeline to create a more efficient layout in the upstairs area.
The OSM relies chiefly on grant funding to maintain the premises and the services it provides, so to have achieved this National Lottery award is fantastic news for the town and is down to the hard work and perseverance of the volunteers.
