A new lunch club is bringing people together at Golf Green Public Hall in Jaywick Sands thanks to a £10,000 grant from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF).

The much-loved community venue has launched the Thursday lunch club after being allocated the funding by Tendring District Council (TDC) through the REPF Community Grant Scheme.

The investment has funded vital kitchen improvements, including a dishwasher, cooker, slow cookers and steamer, enabling volunteers to prepare and serve affordable hot meals safely and efficiently for 58 local members.

As a result, the venue can now host a fortnightly lunch club, complementing the existing provision at the Jaywick Resource Centre on another day of the week.

The new club, which is entirely run by volunteers, is helping to tackle social isolation, provide affordable meals, and create an additional welcoming space for residents to come together.

Gideon Bull, trustee at Golf Green Public Hall, said the funding had made a real difference to what the hall can offer.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Tendring District Council for this support,” he said.

“The improvements to our kitchen have been transformative and have allowed us to safely launch our Thursday lunch club.

“There is clearly a strong demand locally for places where people can meet, enjoy a hot meal, and spend time together.

“We’re proud to be able to provide that and to complement the fantastic work already happening at the Jaywick Resource Centre.”

The REPF Community Grant Scheme offered funding for capital improvements to community facilities, helping organisations upgrade spaces, improve accessibility, and expand the services they provide.

Councillor Ivan Henderson, TDC’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, welcomed the project and its positive impact on the local community.

“This is a fantastic example of how the Rural England Prosperity Fund has supported grassroots organisations to deliver meaningful benefits for residents,” he said.

“By improving the kitchen at Golf Green Public Hall, this funding has directly enabled the creation of an additional lunch club, giving more people the opportunity to access affordable meals and social interaction.

“Projects like this strengthen community connections and improve quality of life, which is exactly what the fund is designed to achieve.”

The Rural England Prosperity Fund invested £800,000 into more than 50 rural businesses and 40 community projects across Tendring, helping organisations enhance facilities, improve accessibility and deliver events and services that support local residents and economies.

The grants have helped businesses and groups expand, improve efficiency, and embrace innovation—funding everything from 3D printers and machine tools controlled by computer to new websites and even a revamped pub kitchen, enabling it to sell homemade food.

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