Meals on Wheels Week to highlight importance of the catering service

Meals on Wheels Week, the National Association of Care Catering’s (NACC) annual awareness event, is to return between 31 October and 4 November.

It will be a chance to celebrate the role that Meals on Wheels services play in supporting older and vulnerable members of the community, especially as they face a difficult winter amid the cost of living crisis.

The NACC has urged members, partners, industry colleagues, associations and the general public to show their support for Meals on Wheels’ services on social media.

Daily events have also been planned as part of the initiative, including Thank you Tuesday on 1 November, which will be an opportunity to show appreciation for all the volunteers, drivers and carers behind the provision of meals.

Meals on Wheels has also alleviated the pressures on NHS beds by allowing vulnerable patients to be discharged to their own homes, as well as cooking nutritious meals for local hospital lunch clubs and meeting groups.

It hopes that the awareness raised during the week will urge the government to recognise the need for greater funding and support for the industry.

Neel Radia (pictured left), Meals on Wheels project lead for the NACC, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has given the nation a real glimpse of the value of Meals on Wheels services and the nutritional and emotional support they provide to the vulnerable living at home in the community.

“I urge all industry colleagues and providers to take part in Meals on Wheels Week 2022 to ensure the ongoing value of this precious service is recognised and protected. I also would encourage everyone else to show their support for this cornerpiece of our nation”

Sue Cawthray (pictured right), national chair of the NACC, added: "This year as people face a winter where fuel bills hit an all-time high and, in some cases, may be making decisions on whether to ‘heat or eat’ the NACC is ensuring that its Meals on Wheels week is once again raising the profile of such a vital service across the UK to those key decision makers and influencers.”