A SOCIAL group aimed at tackling loneliness and building community spirit in part of Helensburgh has been declared a big success.

Weekly 'Meet and Eat' sessions, organised by the Kirkmichael Community Development Group (KCDG), have been held every Wednesday since October at St Joseph's Primary School.

And those who attend the sessions – which have been funded by a grant of £7,718 from the People's Health Trust – have all said they feel more involved in the community as a result.

The results of a survey of Meet and Eat attendees were reported at KCDG's recent annual meeting.

Asked what they enjoyed most about the sessions, one respondent replied: “The company is a lovely way to spend an afternoon seeing people you haven't seen for a long time.”

Another said: “I don't get out much so it's lovely meeting new people.”

And a third added: “The food and company are lovely.”

Asked if they had any suggestions on how to make the Meet and Eat sessions better, one person said it “couldn't be better”.

Another answered: “Not really, they do a lovely job. Lovely sandwiches, cakes and home baking – what more could you ask for, and nothing is a problem for them. They're always cheery and friendly.”

Stephen Coates, KCDG's outgoing chairman, said: “Everybody's been mucking in, and it's been very, very successful.

“What we need to do for the future is advertise it a bit more – and although everyone at St Joseph's has been fantastic with us, if we could get a better venue it would be ideal.”

The Meet and Eat group's regulars have all signed up to an evening out later this month, to 'A Country Night in Nashville' at the King's Theatre in Glasgow on February 16.

Gillian Simpson from the Helensburgh office of the Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface (TSI), which works with KCDG on the Meet and Eat and other local projects, said: “There's been really positive feedback from everyone coming along. About 15 people come fairly regularly.

“The partnership with St Joseph's has been really good – they provided pupils to give a demonstration of Scottish country dancing on St Andrew's Day and carol singing before Christmas. The involvement of the kids has been a real bonus.

“The Meet and Eat scheme is a really good project with great partnership involvement. The next step is inviting the partners involved to come along and start making links with the people who go to the group.”

The Kirkmichael Community Development Group was formed in late 2015 in a bid to build community spirit and civic pride in an area of Helensburgh which for many years has been faced with a range of social problems such as poverty and unemployment.

(All photos with this article were taken by Rebecca Simpson.)