A monthly ‘Music Makes Memories’ Friendship Lunch has helped to bring people in our region together for food, conversation and entertainment.

The monthly Friendship Lunches take place around South Yorkshire, North East Derbyshire and West Yorkshire, bringing people together to tackle loneliness among the elderly.

Organisers have said the event is to help isolated old people in Sheffield, with some GPs and the NHS recommending the it and even socially prescribing it.

Ericka Hill, the Fundraising, Marketing and Communications Officer for Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care, SCCCC, said: “It is important for us to be involved, no one should be lonely. The pandemic showed us what’s bad about isolation.”

Medical experts agree that being alone and living alone can be isolating and can affect your mental health. Organisers have said this is why these Friendship Lunches are so vital.

Jay Bhayani, managing director of Bhayani HR & Employment Law sponsors the Friendship Lunches on a monthly basis, as do Golden Years Support Services and Staves Estate Agents.

Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care sponsors the posters for the Friendship Lunches, along with TwelveTrees Care, Visiting Angels South Yorkshire, Norrie Waite & Slater and Sheffcare.

Kathy Markwick first launched the event 10 years ago, in September 2014 at the Holiday Inn in Barnsley. She had only just left the banking sector at HSBC, after 34 years, to enter the care sector.

She realised how many elderly lonely people there were and from this moment she decided to make a difference and asked the 3 Rotary Clubs in Barnsley for support.

The inaugural event in Barnsley hosted around 40 guests.

Kathy said: “The event was a huge success and we didn’t realise our numbers were going to rise to 250 in the next few years. It was just lovely seeing people arriving, they’ve got dressed up, they’ve made an effort and have something to look forward to.”

Kathy’s Friendship Lunches now host around 50 guests in multiple locations during the month.

In recognition of her friendship lunches, Kathy was invited to 10 Downing Street to celebrate what she was doing by the Yorkshire Post.

She said: “Overall we’re making a difference to people’s lives.”

The lunches take place in Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham, Dronfield, Killamarsh and Wakefield. A typical Friendship Lunch includes live music, a 2-course lunch and a raffle – average price is £12 pp.

For more information contact Kathy on 0772 9528844 or email kathymarkwick@gmail.com