Lay on lunch to stop people eating alone

PEOPLE are being urged to help run lunch clubs for men and women over the age of 70 after new research suggested one in five eat meals alone.

The Royal Voluntary Service, which runs lunch clubs, said eating alone could affect health and well-being.

Its survey of 1,000 people over the age of 70 indicated one in five eat all their main meals alone, while one in 10 said they regularly skipped meals.

Rebecca Kennelly, of the Royal Voluntary Service, said: “For many older people in Britain, eating alone is an everyday occurrence.

“Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery is helping Royal Voluntary Service to develop more lunch and social clubs across the country to ensure older people get to eat at least one healthy, hot meal in the company of others on a regular basis.

“We hope our campaign inspires more people to become members or donate their time to volunteer.

“We also want to encourage more people to take the lead in their communities by volunteering to start up their own lunch and social club so that less people have to eat alone.”