8/11/2004 - Best of British - to celebrate National Meals on Wheels week : Cumbria County Council

Today sees the start of National Meals on Wheels week. Cumbria Contract Services, who provide meals on wheels on behalf of Cumbria County Council, is providing 'Best of British' menus to meals on wheels clients throughout the week.

Meals on Wheels Week aims to draw attention to the importance of this service which enables many disabled or housebound people to remain in their own homes long after they would otherwise have been hospitalised or taken into residential care.

Promotion days are as follows:

Copeland - WRVS office in Egremont on Tuesday 9 November at 10.30am

Carlisle - Edward Street Kitchen on Wednesday 10 November at 10.45am

Barrow - Moorfield Street Kitchen on Thursday 11 November at 10.45am

South Lakes - Whinfell Centre in Kendal on Friday 12 November at 10.45am

All meals on wheels clients will receive the 'Best of British' meals. Menus include traditional roast beef and yorkshire pudding, salmon and broccoli supreme, Irish stew and chicken and leek hot pot. Meals on wheels team members will also enter into the 'Best of British' spirit by dressing up and decorating the kitchens.

Cabinet spokesman for cumbria contract services, councillor Tim Heslop said,

"Meals on wheels are provided throughout the county by the county council’s contract services premises unit. Meals are delivered by community based volunteers and the WRVS. Over 20,000 nutritious hot meals are delivered per month by a team of 1700 dedicated volunteers. The meals on wheels service provides invaluable support to frail and vulnerable people in the community. It makes a huge difference in the quality of people's lives enabling them to keep their own independence within their own homes instead of possibly having to go into residential care."

Meals on wheels manager, Alison Jackson said:

"This is a vital service to many elderly people throughout the county. Being a volunteer gives people the opportunity to discover their own abilities as well as having a direct impact on the lives of our clients. Volunteers not only deliver a hot healthy meal but also a healthy dose of friendship and company to the client. I would like to thank all the volunteers currently providing this invaluable service and I hope that celebrating national meals on wheels week in this way will raise awareness about this important service and encourage more people to become a volunteer."

The meals on wheels service needs volunteer drivers and helpers throughout Cumbria. For more information please call,