Group delighted to open new base
A charity that helps people keep active in mind and body while combating loneliness and social isolation has unveiled its new facility.
The West Lothian 50+ Network marked a new milestone at the official opening of its new Members’ Hub.
The occasion provided the opportunity to thank to their supporters, funders and volunteers, many of whom who went along to help them celebrate.
The Lord Lieutenant of West Lothian, Moira Niven, performed the opening ceremony for the new base at George Street in Bathgate, and has been made an honorary member of the network.
The network’s convener, Anne Webster, welcomed guests and spoke about the journey the Network had undertaken to reach this point.
She said: “After two difficult years living with covid, and a shaky start to 2022, we opened the doors of our smart new premises on January 19 and began to welcome some of our early adopter’ special interest and activity groups into this purpose-designed meeting space.
“Come February, it was standing room only at our very first monthly full members’ meeting in this bright new space, with Network members keen to check out the new facility, as well as meet up once again with their friends.
“Our move into larger premises on Bathgate’s main shopping precinct couldn’t have come at a better time.
“The pandemic has brought home to us all how important it is to be connected with others.
“Older people have found it to be particularly challenging so we were delighted to be able to secure new, larger premises in a high street location, giving us a highly-visible base from
which to launch our growth plans for 2022 and beyond.” Following extensive consultation with activity group leaders last September when the network first took over the property, a great deal of work has been put in to refresh the tired interior of the former Santander Bank.
Anne added: “The network is hugely grateful to a number of external sponsors and supporters who have helped to fund the improvements, and to all who have lent their ideas and handiwork to implement them.”
The 50+ Network’s core mission is to provide a wide range of opportunities for social interaction to combat loneliness in older people and Anne explained that it was important for them to have their own base where the network could be taken to the next level.
She said: “Anecdotally, we know that for many people the Network and the
opportunities for social interaction are life changing.
“We have ambitious medium-term growth plans because we want to pass those benefits on to as many people as possible”.
“But it’s not enough simply to grow our membership – the development of new interest groups, not just in Bathgate, but across the county is important, and I would like to acknowledge the input of all our volunteer group leaders.
“Partnership working is essential to help achieve our goals and it is important to acknowledge the support of the many organisations and individuals that work with us.
Towards the end of 2021 the network’s membership began to soar, exceeding 500 for the first time since the group began, some 27 years ago.
Since then, almost another 100 members have joined.