The Club originated with the Seaford branch of the Red Cross some 25 years ago.
At a time when the Red Cross was reducing its activities, particularly amongst 'Clubs', the Committee decided to run the activity as a private, self financing organisation. This change occurred in 1997.

Following this change the Club adopted the present title, applied for Charitable Status and moved the venue from the Red Cross Hall to The St James Trust, Seaford - where a meeting room and kitchen facility is rented each week. We remain an Affiliated Member of the Stroke Association.

The Club meets every Monday afternoon (holidays & Christmas excepted) - to provide a meeting place and some respite for the members - and relief for their carers. The normal strength is about 26 - many have been coming for over 10 years and much value is set on the frequency and regularity of the meetings. There is no fixed limit on membership although it is necessary from time to time to create a waiting list for applicants needing Club transport. The membership includes a wide range of stroke sufferers, sometimes a housebound partner as well and sometimes the lonely - new members generally come to us by recommendation.

The meeting format is quite loose but a generally accepted programme includes time to chat, a short (40minute) entertainment which may be musical, a slide/travel/local history show, a quiz or a table-top games session: a break for tea and cakes (provided by the lady helpers) is followed by Bingo and a further chat time whilst transport is prepared. Meetings last 2 hours and the charge to members is £1 and a further £1 when transported by the Club. The meeting calendar includes 3 or 4 tea outings and a lunch outing during the year.

The Club is run by a Committee, most of whom are Trustees - and backed by a splendid voluntary team including at least 6 lady helpers and about 12 drivers and escorts and most of these work on a 'one week in three' rota. We hire a bus from St James Trust, this has a tail lift and takes Crew+7 sitting passengers and 4 wheelchair passengers. Also we have always used an 11 seat (Crew+9) minibus by courtesy of the Seaford and Newhaven Lions Club Others are brought in by volunteers using their own cars..

The Club Leader is Mrs Joyce Woodgate, 7, Kings Ride, Seaford tel 894547


Bob Evans
(Treasurer and Transport Officer)
October 2005