A Rotary Club is hoping to encourage new, younger members by setting up a satellite venture.

The Rotary Club of Kendal has 48 members but, according to its communications officer former president Trevor Hughes, it is seen as a club for older professional men, even though it is open to men and women of all ages.

The club, which meets each week for lunch, supports Rotary causes at local, national and international levels. For example, purple crocuses planted around the town are a reminder that the club supports Rotary's campaign to eradicate polio throughout the world (the crocus is the symbol of the campaign).

In addition, the Kendal club raises money for a variety of charities and causes, including flood relief in the town, the Bendrigg Trust, Sight Advice South Lakes, Sandgate School and Kendal Mountain Rescue Team.

But Trevor said that when people in their twenties attended meetings they tended to feel a bit out of place. "We are an ageing club. Our members are all retired and the average age is about 70."

The plan now was to set up a satellite club covering Kendal and the surrounding area. "We are encouraging younger people to get together informally. They can decide if and when they want to meet and what they want to to do. It is a way of getting young people coming and becoming involved in Rotary.

"The satellite club would be for men, women, married couples, anyone who is interested in getting involved in a service organisation."

He said that such clubs had been set up in other parts of the country and, in time, they had merged with existing clubs. When the older club eventually closed down, the new groups had taken over as the main Rotary organisation in the area.

Ruth Otway, another Rotary Club member, added: "We hope this new type of club will be informal, flexible and friendly, with members from all walks of life who either know the area well, or are new to the area and would welcome an opportunity to get to know like-minded people."

Anyone interested in learning more about the proposed satellite club should contact Ruth Otway on 015395 60818 or email ruth.otway@btopenworld.com or Trevor Hughes on 01539 724302 or email trevor.hughes@127eclipse.co.uk