High praise from the High Sheriff for Eat@TheHeath community volunteers helping to combat loneliness

he High Sheriff of Cheshire visited The Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn on Wednesday (May 27th) to meet organisers and volunteers of Eat@TheHeath Community Group, an award-winning club for the over 50s.

Although primarily a business and science centre, the park, owned and operated by SOG Ltd, has evolved into a crucial community asset as SOG’s owner John Lewis MBE ensures The Heath’s extensive facilities are accessible to local people.
His inspirational community approach led to Eat@TheHeath being formed in 2021 by members of his SOG staff, volunteers and Runcorn Police Community Support Officers. Originally launched for a one-off community event, it instantly grew into a weekly club supporting elderly and vulnerable people including many who live alone. The weekly gatherings attract around 70-100 people while monthly luncheons with live music draw audiences of over 150.
High Sheriff Lynn Pegler said: “It was a delight to chat to everyone and join in with the enthusiastic dancing and singing after lunch. The weekly Eat@TheHeath meet-up is a wonderful way for elderly people to keep connected and bring the wider community into the heart of the Heath Business Park.
“All credit to The Heath’s owner John Lewis and his enthusiastic staff and volunteers for making an amazing difference to the quality of life for so many people. Looking at the sea of happy, smiling faces, the event is clearly a much-loved weekly highlight for everyone who attends. It’s incredible how it has grown from a small online community during the Covid Lockdown into a hugely popular social network, supporting people with regular meetings, outings, games and a new community garden growing food and flowers.”
Eat@TheHeath is overseen by Eileen Miller, Site Charter and Community Manager at The Heath, with a small team of volunteer helpers. In addition to the regular gatherings, the group stages special Christmas functions and daytrips during the year.
Before joining the May lunch and music session, the High Sheriff met volunteers at The Heath’s Community Garden who maintain a peaceful and tranquil space for Eat@TheHeath members. She also visited The Heath’s Gym and Leisure Centre, another facility at the business park which has been opened up to the wider local community.
Mr Lewis said: “I’m grateful to the High Sheriff for finding time to come and visit our Community Group which is run on a voluntary basis by members of the SOG team supported by a small but dedicated band of hardworking and enthusiastic volunteers. Eat@TheHeath is simply an initiative way to combat loneliness where elderly people can meet with each other and be entertained in a safe environment. Our programme is important by getting people out of the home and helping to improve their mental health.”

Eileen Miller says: “Our club is a platform where local people who feel lonely or isolated can meet up on a weekly basis for a cup of tea and a chat, play bingo and attend our music sessions, community forums and monthly luncheons. Our gatherings are supported by Police Community Support Officers who have an office here at The Heath. Serious issues such as security in the home and how to avoid scams are discussed alongside all the entertainment activities that we stage for members.”
Yesterday’s luncheon was also attended by Nicola Goodwin, Interim Executive Director for Community and Environment at Halton Borough Council. Mark Bloor (John Lennon) from the Mersey Beatles was the star entertainer for the occasion.
The Heath’s Eat@TheHeath programme has been recognised with a ‘Commitment to the Community’ award in the Halton Chamber of Commerce Business Awards and last year Eileen Miller and several Eat@TheHeath volunteers were invited to a Buckingham Palace summer garden party hosted by the King and Queen in recognition of their voluntarily efforts.

About The Heath
The Heath Business and Technical Park is a phenomenal regeneration success story. Formed in 2000, its owner and operator, SOG Ltd, has transformed a once single occupancy corporate facility into a thriving independent business park. The Heath now provides office and laboratory accommodation for more than 120 individual organisations, ranging from business services and IT specialists to those at the cutting edge of science, research and advanced manufacturing. Around 2,000 people are employed at the site. For further information, telephone 01928 515988 or visit www.theheath.com

For more information, please see:
www.theheath.com

PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES
6th June 2026