Kelty's 50+Social Club celebrate its first birthday

It is an organisation which is providing an excellent base where elder members of the village community can meet and enjoy company.

With a sense of satisfaction, community education worker Fungai Moetsabi, who oversees various youth and adult activities at the centre, including Our Wee Cafe, a lunch club on Tuesdays, reflected with delight at the past year’s achievements.

She said: “There is now such eagerness in the group. We have noticed in our clients’ demeanour they are more confident and brighter.

“We are asked about problems such as finance and other personal matters, and are very pleased to be able to point them in the right direction.”

Fungai with a busy table of members. (Image: Contributed) She became aware that there were socially isolated people in the village whose needs were not being met, and was surprised to find that there were no activity-based clubs for seniors.

However, research was needed to formulate what was needed to attract good numbers, and what activities would create enough interest for its long-term survival. The resources and staffing and of course funding, also had to be sourced.

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Within two to three months, Fungai felt she had done enough talking and it was time for action. With dogged determination, she lodged an application for one year’s funding to Fife Council, unsure about the outcome, but she remained hopeful.

Within a short time the appropriate funding was offered from the Community Budget, but only for six months, to March 2024.

Finally, the 50+Social Club was launched on September 11 last year with a turnout of 16 seniors.

The group is now 25 strong and their voluntary financial giving keeps the club afloat.

Fungai is very grateful for her two volunteer helpers, the tireless Lou McCann and Billy Inglis: cook and dominoes champion!

The love and gratitude members have for their helpers is palpable.

Mary Gibson, 82, who for 22 years ran a seniors' club that was disbanded one year ago, remarked that the opening of this club was very timely for her and "is a great and friendly group, where you can talk to anyone."

David, 78, likes the banter, adding: "It gives me a kick being among such lovely ladies."

Maureen, 75, said: "There are no cliques here, everybody gets on with one-another."

Lynn summed it up very well: "The reason I come here is to build my confidence and strength. This has helped my anxiety and loneliness and I can’t thank Fungai and Lou enough. I love the group."

The club meets on Mondays at 9.15am for breakfast and has a varied programme of games, social outdoor activities, with trips to places such as Lochore Meadows Country Park and they welcome speakers on subjects such as online safety and other topics.