RUISLIP Northwood Old Folks Association has received a £41,964 grant from HS2’s Community and Environment Fund, to help provide more than 10,000 meals to the elderly.

The project is the first in the Uxbridge & South Ruislip constituency to successfully apply to the rail project for funds.

Boris Johnson MP popped into one of the lunch sessions on Monday to see how it is helping tackle a rise in loneliness among the older generation.

The charity behind the lunch and social club hopes it will offer a place to meet others in similar circumstances over lunch and reducing the pressure on social services and the NHS.

Visiting Elm Park, Mr Johnson said: “I’m thrilled this award will be making such a tremendous difference to people’s lives this winter and I will be encouraging other community projects and businesses in my constituency, who may have been impacted by HS2 construction work, to apply.”

Ruislip Northwood Old Folks Association runs two lunch and social clubs in the area – at the Elm Park Centre in Ruislip and the Tudor Club in Eascote.

They have existed since 1949 and are established as centres that encourage community cohesion between residents. The clubs are open from 10.30am, Monday to Friday.

HS2 work in the area is confined mainly to tunnels, with the West Ruislip Portal located 1.8km from the Elm Park Club and the South Ruislip Vent Shaft 1.5km from the Tudor Club.