New 'Friendship' Event Launches at DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park

10th February 2025

Kathy Markwick, freelance community consultant and founder of Music Makes Memories' Friendship Lunches across South Yorkshire, is launching her next event at the DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park.

In just nine years Kathy has grown the network of monthly Friendship Lunches to 30 venues from her first small gathering of 30 people in 2016, with events now taking place in Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham, and Leeds, and a new one planned for Doncaster.  The 'dementia friendly' Friendship Lunches offer the elderly, lonely, or those feeling socially isolated the chance to meet old friends and create new friendships in a relaxed, warm, and safe setting.

Kathy said "I am absolutely thrilled that we are now launching this new Friendship Lunch at the DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park.  Over the last nine years, I know we have helped hundreds of people combat the effects of loneliness, but sadly it is still a huge problem in our society, and I am just delighted that the Hotel team is collaborating with me to do something about this. 

“The Campaign to End Loneliness says that approximately 7.1 of people in Great Britain (3.83 million) experience chronic loneliness and that loneliness not only impacts your mental health but also increases the risk of early mortality by 26.  And they are not wrong. 

“I have seen first-hand the impact of loneliness and isolation in our local community. After a corporate career in banking and eleven years working in the care sector, I decided to do something to help, and the lunches were born. The growth of the events over the last nine years demonstrates the strong demand for opportunities to bring people together.

“I work with some GP practices who also agree and now 'socially prescribe' the events to patients who are experiencing the effects of loneliness, dementia, or poor mental health. The events currently support over 500 people in South Yorkshire, and it is growing!”

The new Friendship Lunch at the DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park launches on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, from 12 noon to 3.00 pm and features an afternoon tea, live entertainment from Oliver Harris, and a raffle in aid of Cavendish Cancer Care.

Tickets are £15 and must be booked in advance by contacting Kathy on 0772 9528844 or kathymarkwick@gmail.com

Kathy added: “There are so many lovely examples of people we have helped too.  Joyce who was 93 at the time was encouraged to join the events by Rotherham NHS.  At first, she was reluctant as she said she felt too old.  I chatted with her and sufficed to say, she agreed to join us, and now attends events regularly.  We are all really looking forward to celebrating her 98th birthday in April.  I also have fond memories of Len who spoke to me after an event at which my friend asked him to dance.  Len later told me that this had made his day, as he had not danced with anyone for 20 years since his wife died.  At future events, he would always be one of the first on the dance floor.  Sadly, he passed away a couple of years later, but it is heart-warming to know that we enhanced his life in his later years. “

The Friendship Lunches attract a range of guests, including local businessperson Jill White, who takes her mum, Ina, to the events.  She said: “I wanted Mum to have a place where she could go and mix with other people, somewhere safe, friendly and a bit of fun! The Friendship Lunches have been a wonderful experience and have really helped her to stay active.”

The general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park, Daniel Rich, added: “Our hotel has always been keen to play its part in the local community, so I’m particularly thrilled to be working with Kathy in launching the friendship events.  We hope that those in our local area will come along and join in the day. The aim is that this will be the first in a series of lunches, as we support Kathy in growing her network and reaching as many people as she can.”