DROITWICH Stroke Club is appealing for new members to join its ranks, and for volunteers who might be able to give some of their time to help run activities and help to take members on outings.

The club has been running in the town for 25 years, hiring a room at Copcut Court to provide lunches and a social atmosphere every Friday, to people in the community who have suffered a stroke.

With potential room for 20 members, it organises meals out, and trips to local pubs to play skittles as well as arranging fundraising evenings and other events.

It has a healthy membership of 17 members at the moment, however, in recent years the club has found itself with fewer and fewer volunteers as people get older and are unable to help as much as they might like.

The organisers are hoping more people might be able to help out.

Club chairman Christine Bowden said: “Whilst this is an appeal for members, it is also an appeal for helpers, so if you are able to re-organise your weekly grind and can spare us a few hours we would be glad to see you.

“In recent years we have had a steady fall off of staff, which has meant that trips out have dwindled. Unless we have sufficient wheelchair attendants then members need to bring along their own carers, which defeats one of the aims of the club, which is to give respite to carers.

“We do have a flexible number of supporters who help with the running of the club, but the more members we have then the more assistance is required. It is an extremely rewarding experience, but volunteers do have home lives, need holidays, or fall sick so we rarely have a full team.”

Membership of the Stroke Club is £7.50 a week, which include a hot meal. For more information on joining, or on becoming a volunteer, contact the club on 07922 270027.