Tag: meals on wheels service

Local charity receives funding boost from the ScottishPower Foundation

LifeCare Edinburgh has been awarded a significant funding boost of over £75,000 from the ScottishPower Foundation.  The funding will go towards its vital Help at Home and Meals on Wheels services, enabling the charity to reach over 200 local older people living on a low income with free support. 

Twenty charities across England, Scotland and Wales have been awarded funding totalling almost £1.2 million for projects tackling a range of issues, from cost-of-living support, to promoting diversity and inclusion and raising awareness of the ongoing climate and biodiversity crises. 

Sarah van Putten, Chief Executive of LifeCare said: “The funding from The ScottishPower Foundation will make a significant difference to the lives of hundreds of local older people. 

“At LifeCare, we believe everyone should be enabled to thrive in their own home and be active within their community.  Over 75% of the people we help live alone and without LifeCare, many older people would be left critically isolated.  

“Our services help people to keep well in both body and mind; delivering fresh, hot and nutritious meals to doorsteps with a smile and a chat, providing help with practical tasks when things are getting more difficult to manage, and offering companionship activities to keep people connected.    

“With a rapidly growing older population we are struggling to cope with demand for care coupled with the rising costs of service delivery. None of our services are fully funded and we rely on our fundraising to sustain our life-affirming services. 

“Thanks to this support we will be enabled to offer our meals on wheels service for free to those that need it and open our Help at Home service for free for those on low incomes for the first time.  We are all extremely grateful.” 

Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “Projects like LifeCare’s free Help at Home and Meals on Wheels services are a prime example of how the ScottishPower Foundation’s support is helping to create a better future. 

“With this year’s projects providing vital support set to aid vulnerable people, communities, and natural ecosystems across the nation, it’s important for us to recognise and boost the incredible work of these charities.” 

For more information about LifeCare’s services and activities visit:

https://www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk/ 

For a full list of the 2024 ScottishPower Foundation funded projects, go to www.scottishpowerfoundation.com

LifeCare doubles the distribution of vital meals on wheels service

LifeCare Edinburgh, the older people’s support charity, is today announcing it is extending its ‘meals on wheels’ service launched last year as increased support for the elderly through the crisis. 

The charity set up the new service in September thanks to securing significant funding from Barclays 100×100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Fund. 

The hot food delivery programme has rapidly become an integral part of the charity’s service plan supporting those most in need through the pandemic. In just over three months, LifeCare has provided over 2,000 fresh and nutritious two-course meals delivered safely, hot and ready to eat. 

Meals are prepared in the charity’s community café on Cheyne Street in Stockbridge and delivered by their Help at Home service. 

Meal deliveries have been hailed as ‘lifesaving’ by those accessing the service.  In particular, the programme is proving to be a huge help for those struggling with mobility issues which may be worsening through the crisis as people remain in the home.

Others lack the energy to cater for themselves, for those who live alone it is something to look forward to, and it provides comfort and assurance for friends and family members who live elsewhere and are unable to visit to care for their loved ones. 

An additional benefit is that delivering the meals to those most vulnerable acts as an important regular ‘check-in’ service where the trained team can safely make sure that the individual is coping OK and assess/refer any new needs.

Damian McGown CEO of LifeCare, (above) said: “We are hugely proud of our vital new meals on wheels service which has already provided positive, practical support to over 100 local older people who are truly suffering through this difficult time. 

“The colder, darker months have always been a challenge for older people, but this is a winter like no other.  The elderly have been disproportionately affected by the virus and as restrictions increase once again those in our communities remain very worried, fearful, often lonely and chronically isolated.  Family and friends can no longer visit, activities are cancelled, and day services closed.  The most vulnerable are shielding once again.

“We are therefore announcing that, thanks to the support from Barclays, LifeCare will be extending our meals on wheels service to offer double the existing support – we are now able to reach 200 local older people most in need. 

“Those eligible will receive a fresh, nutritious two-course meal delivered hot and ready to eat.  Please contact us if you or someone you know could benefit from LifeCare’s free meals on wheels service.”

Scott Stewart, Head of Barclays Scotland, said: “LifeCare is playing a vital role in this crisis.  The charity has amplified its offering to elderly people with the donation provided by Barclays and we are delighted to support their work.”

Meals are delivered at lunchtime and there is a choice of two main courses each day with one choice always being vegetarian. All special dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for. 

If you, or someone you know, would like to benefit from the meals on wheels service please call 0131 343 0940 to discuss.  

For more information visit https://www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk/