HC-One care homes across the UK are delighted to be welcoming in their local communities to join them for Afternoon Tea for ‘Friday Friends’ Day on Friday 3rd November as part of Meals on Wheels Week, taking place from 30th October to 3rd November 2023.
Meals on Wheels Week is a national event hosted by the National Association of Care Catering (NACC), designed to bring together Health and Social Care sectors, caterers, service providers, food suppliers, volunteers, carers, older people, policy makers and the public to raise awareness about the importance of meals delivered in the community.
The week will provide HC-One care homes with the opportunity to highlight the social, economic, psychological and preventative benefits of Meals on Wheels and Community Meals services in the UK, whether these are delivered to homes or via day centres and luncheon clubs; encourage public support for local Meals on Wheels and Community Meals services and address, as well as increase awareness of loneliness, social isolation and the wellbeing of older and vulnerable people living in the community.
Residents and colleagues in HC-One’s care homes are looking forward to opening their doors to celebrate the week together with friends, family, community groups, local authority representatives, local dignitaries, and wider members of the local community.
Each home has been working hard on their plans for the week, ranging from colleagues and residents attending a virtual webinar by the Association of Public Sector Excellence (APSE) around the Meals on Wheels 2023 report, taking part in ‘Thank You Tuesday’ which provides the opportunity to show appreciation to those who contribute to Meals on Wheels services, VIP on Wheels where local dignitaries will be invited to attend to celebrate the service, a crossing borders – Meals on Wheels in Ireland virtual webinar about why Meals on Meals is so important to them which will provide the opportunity to compare different models to inspire and engage and a variety of other activities. Residents will be taking a central role in the preparations and activities taking place during the week.
The week will be finished off on Friday 3rd November with an Afternoon Tea event where local communities will be invited into the homes. HC-One have set care homes with the challenge and competition of creating an extravagant Afternoon Tea for their local community as part of ‘Friday Friends’ Day as part of Meals on Wheels Week. The top three winning care home who put on the best Afternoon Tea spread will win a hamper. The day will highlight the importance of social eating and how it helps reduce loneliness and social isolation, bringing in people from their local communities together to share the joy of food and time as well as providing the opportunity for HC-One care homes to build strong relationships with those in their local communities and for residents.
Mark Meacham, HC-One’s Head of Catering and Housekeeping Support Services, said:
“We are delighted to be able to bring everyone together to celebrate and take part in an Afternoon Tea Party for ‘Friday Friends’ as part of Meals on Wheels Week this year.
“HC-One’s care homes are delighted to be taking part in this event in partnership with Meals on Wheels as it’s all about bringing the community together, as well as providing the opportunity to raise the important role that good nutrition and hydration play. Our homes are looking forward to welcoming members of the local community to join in with their Afternoon Tea celebrations.
“The week provides a great opportunity to reinforce the great connection between our residents and homes, and their local community. We look forward to continuing our work with the National Association of Care Catering to ensure individuals are educated and provided with good nutrition and hydration within our home and their local communities.”
Neel Radia, Meals on Wheels lead for the National Association of Care Catering, commented:
“Loneliness and social isolation are prevalent amongst older people in our communities and having services like lunch clubs and day centres, gives access to older people to come together and meet others whilst enjoying something to eat and drink.
“With the underfunding in social care and community lunch clubs under threat of closure, it is heartwarming to see organisations like HC-One care homes opening their doors to alleviate some of those pressures for older people living in their communities and inviting them to join their own care home residents for food, drink, and company.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with HC-One care homes for NACC Meals on Wheels Week and are grateful for their support.”
This year marks the second year that HC-One have been members of the National Association of Care Catering and HC-One look forward to building a strong relationship with the National Association of Care Catering going forward to work together on several key aspects including supporting with upskilling HC-One’s chefs and raising awareness of HC-One within the Care Catering Sector.