Age UK North Yorkshire and Darlington

Age UK Darlington and North Yorkshire is expanding its ‘Meals at Home’ service, which was launched during the pandemic to provide nutritious meals to older people aged over 50 in the community.

The charity's two-course menu options, which cost only £7.50 per day, include classic dishes like pork chops, mince and dumplings, and sticky toffee pudding.

With the capacity to serve up to 100 meals a day, the Meals at Home service provides an invaluable lifeline to older people living alone or in social settings, such as day care centres.

In addition to delivering the meals, the team of dedicated volunteers offers a crucial social connection to isolated individuals.

Kevin Phillips has delivered meals to Darlington residents for the past three years.

Kevin said: “I’ve been a volunteer driver for Age UK Darlington and North Yorkshire since we started the meals at home service. It's become a lifeline for many people in the local area who perhaps struggle to make a nourishing meal for themselves.

“Many people who live alone can become isolated and I think the service provides that connection that they may otherwise lack. I really enjoy being a volunteer driver and love meeting new customers.”

The half-dozen-strong team of delivery volunteers deliver the wholesome meals to people in the community while the delicious and sustaining food is cooked up by three full-time cooks backed up by volunteer kitchen assistants. Meals can be ordered up to 11.00am on the day of delivery.

Helen Hunter, Chief Executive of Age UK Darlington and North Yorkshire, said: “Our Meals at Home service provides an invaluable facility to many people in the community. Older people living alone, possibly widowed, who perhaps do not feel like cooking for themselves, place real value on this. The social and wellbeing benefits cannot be underestimated. We also have many couples who enjoy the meals on a regular basis.”

The charity is also seeking volunteer drivers to support the service.

Age UK Darlington and North Yorkshire provides crucial companionship, advice, and support to thousands of people aged 50+ every year, through a range of social and wellbeing services, including a cafe and restaurant, a day centre, and IT training courses.

To order meals or volunteer, please call 01325 741 492 or 0300 30 20 100, respectively.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Marie Carter-Robb at marie@mccommunications.co.uk or call 07760 477694.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Age UK North Yorkshire and Darlington is a nationally registered charity and one of 150 locally based Age UK organisations providing a variety of services to older people aged 50 plus.

Whether it’s through recreational activities, expert information and advice, befriending services or just being somewhere to turn when things get too tough to cope with on your own, Age UK North Yorkshire and Darlington provides crucial companionship, advice and support to thousands of people every year.

Community focused, Age UK is dedicated to enhancing the lives of older people in the community through befriending, outreach and social activities as well as providing an invaluable range of social and wellbeing services, including:

• A cafe and restaurant.
• A day centre.
• Exercise & physical activity
• Meals at home
• IT Training courses
• Social activities