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Writer's pictureAthena Poole

Deputy Lieutenant Rose Barnes joins Love Dereham for lunch!

What an honour to host Deputy Lieutenant Rose Barnes at our September lunch. We were able to demonstrate what a great time everyone has each month at our free event, eating and socialising together. We served cottage pie with fresh vegetables and gravy, followed by chocolate tarts with cream and peaches, and hot drinks. As well as chatting with the lunch guests, DL Rose Barnes enjoyed meeting the selfless team of volunteers who put out tables and chairs, cook all the food, do all the washing up and then put everything away at the end!



Rose commented after her visit: I was impressed by the warmth of the welcome from you and your volunteers to the lunch guests. Not only did you provide a delicious lunch but the companionship on offer to regular and new guests was lovely to observe. Thank you and your team for all your efforts in promoting and supporting the strong community spirit that is very visible in Dereham town. 

Love Dereham holds these Community Lunches every 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Baptist Church on the High Street. The event is free, but you need a ticket. You can get one from Green Pastures bookshop (20 Norwich Street) where the community fridge is. They are £1 each but you get that £1 back when you come to lunch.


Athena Poole, Love Dereham Coordinator said "People who are feeling lonely at lunchtime, or are unable to afford to take themselves out for a meal, are encouraged to come along and will be warmly welcomed."


Every month we try and feature a local (free) service or another charity on our information table, it's our way of trying to connect our guests with things that could benefit them... but they didn't know they were available to them! In September we had the Energy Team from Citizens Advice join us to help people with unaffordable bills and heating tips. Previous visitors include:




Love Dereham also runs Dereham Community Fridge. We close the fridge on Norwich Street on a Community Lunch day and hold a "pop up" fridge at the lunch! But don't worry, you can pop in and get something even if you're not staying for lunch.



The lunches are funded in part by Breckland Inspiring Communities Fund, Albert Hunt Trust, Love Norfolk Fund, and also by individual monthly donors to Love Dereham. We are incredibly grateful to all our funders!


If you would like to know more about our lunches (or anything else Love Dereham does) please get in touch with our Coordinator Athena Poole. Email or whatsapp is best.

07749 687 981


Picture: Deputy Lieutenant Rose Barnes with Athena Poole, Love Dereham Coordinator. September 2024.




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