We want to employ a sessional worker to research design and develop a social eating scheme "LONE STAR DINING. A scheme that will enable older members of the community to navigate the area in which they live and extend the places they go to for socialising. Going out for a coffee in a cafe or for a cooked meal in a restaurant, meeting friends and making new ones, doing something we all take for granted. Being independent of projects and organised activity for the elderly, making their own choices and being spontaneous. Many elderly members of our community don't get the chance to socialise. Many only have the radio or TV for company and lack the confidence to go out on their own. They have no family or friends who live nearby to socialise with. They tell us they would like to go out for a meal or a Sunday dinner and they miss the opportunity to dress up and make an occasion of going out. How great would it be if they could access a network of local cafés, pubs, social clubs and restaurants and know they would be made welcome if they ventured in to dine alone? We are developing a social eating scheme "Lone Star Dining" with older people. They will be visiting cafés, pubs, social clubs and restaurants in their area to encourage them to register as a Lone Star Dining establishment. The volunteers will re visit as secret shoppers to guage the reception the older person receives. This information will be shared with the local community so they can navigate the area in which they live and visit local eateries confident they will be in great company, as the cafe, pub,etc will be welcoming and friendly to their lone star diners. Social eating schemes are about helping to extend social networks and make eating out a normalising experience. Eventually the lone star diners will be meeting their friends, making new ones and planning other trips out. Gaining renewed confidence, being part of their community not apart from their community.