WE ARE always very sorry to see older people's clubs and groups come to an end and particularly so when, like Penhill Lunch club, dedicated volunteers have been providing weekly meals for so many years (Adver Mar 17).

We all owe them a great deal of thanks. Voluntary and community organisations working locally make all the difference to the lives of many older people.

Sometimes clubs close because costs have risen, sometimes because volunteers are hard to find, sometimes because numbers of members go down. Here's a reminder though: Age Concern Swindon makes grants to all Swindon lunch clubs that request them, to help with the cost of renting premises and running costs. We do that with funds made available by Swindon Council. We also support other older people's organisations.

Details of the grants are available in a leaflet by calling us on 692166 or drop in to 14 Milton Road, SN1 5JE and pick one up.

JO OSORIO

Director, Age Concern Swindon