D-Day 80: Veterans offered free lunch at Royal Star & Garter

A care homes charity is marking the 80^th anniversary of D-Day by offering free lunches to veterans and their partners living in the community this summer.

Royal Star & Garter is offering up to three free meals per person through its popular Lunch Club service, which runs from its Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe, between June and August.

The charity chose to launch the offer in June to tie-in with the 80^th anniversary of D-Day (6 June), and Armed Forces Day (29 June).

Lunch Club launched at Royal Star & Garter last year, to help tackle loneliness and isolation in the Armed Forces community, and is open to veterans and partners of veterans living with disability, or early stage dementia.

The sessions consist of a two-hour visit with a two or three-course meal, conversation and support from staff, and usually cost £10. But new users can now enjoy three Lunch Clubs over the three-month period, free of charge.

Booking in advance is required, but there is no obligation to continue using the service later. Further details and the terms and conditions can be found on the charity’s website at https://starandgarter.org/our-lunch-clubs/.

Royal Star & Garter is a charity which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia. Lunch Club is one of several new services it has recently launched which reaches out into the community.

Free Lunch Club sessions will take place at Royal Star & Garter in Solihull on 19-20 June, 24-25 July and 21-22 August. In Surbiton, the dates will be 14 June, 28 June, 12 July, 26 July, 9 August and 23 August, while High Wycombe dates are 6 June (D-Day), 20 June, 4 July, 18 July, 1 August and 15 August.

People attending should be able to arrange their own transport to and from the Homes. A companion can also enjoy one free Lunch Club session to help their loved one to settle in. Places are subject to availability.

Shirley Hall is the Director of Care & Wellbeing at Royal Star & Garter. She said: “June is a special month for veterans, with the 80^th anniversary of D-Day and Armed Forces Day. Lunch Clubs have been a really popular addition to our Homes since they launched last year, and we’ve seen camaraderie and friendships develop and grow among people using the service. But we want to reach out and support more people, and I hope this fantastic offer will help to achieve this.”

For more Lunch Club details, go to https://starandgarter.org/our-lunch-clubs/

For more information about Lunch Club in Solihull call 0121 711 6330; for more information about Lunch Club in Surbiton call 020 8339 5100; and for more information about Lunch Club in High Wycombe call 01494 927 555.

All three Homes are welcoming new residents. For more information on this, the new services, or to work for the charity, go to www.starandgarter.org