Centre offers meal delivery for elderly residents affected by service cut

The Newbury Weekly News revealed last week that Apetitio, which delivered fresh hot meals to elderly and vulnerable residents, was to cease its operations at the end of August after giving customers just two weeks’ notice.
A relative of one of its customers, who wished to remain anonymous, said the service provided more than a hot meal, with it also being a regular source of interaction for the residents, while also providing a vital daily check that residents weren’t in need of medical assistance.
The firm took over the food delivery service after West Berkshire Council cut £92,000 of its funding in 2012, a decision which sparked concerns on the likely impact on the district’s elderly and vulnerable residents.
Last week, Tania Rumbold posted on the NewburyToday Facebook page: “It always seems like the council have money to waste on pointless legal crusades, unnecessary things and junk mailshots but essential services that our most vulnerable members of the community rely on are not subsidised.
“It's very sad.”
Fi Mew got in touch to say she had contacted TV duo The Hairy Bikers asking for their help.
It follows a televised campaign by the pair in recent years to save meals on wheels services across the country.
A spokeswoman for their PR firm James Grant, Tessa Findlay, said: “We have been overwhelmed with the response to Meals on Wheels, and while Si and Dave would love to make another programme on it, they are booked up with other projects at the moment.
“That is not to say we might revisit when time allows.”
The manager of Fair Close Day Centre, Karen Ockwell, moved on Friday to reassure residents that other services were available for those affected by the cut in Newbury and Thatcham.
A lunchtime meal and pudding costs £4.50, including delivery, and is available Monday to Friday, while frozen meals can also be provided for weekend and bank holiday use.
The meals are prepared and cooked at the centre, on Newtown Road, each day and are delivered by volunteer drivers.
Ms Ockwell, said: “We aim to offer a quality of care to all our clients in providing not only a hot freshly cooked meal daily, but more importantly a social interaction with the elderly and vulnerable residents in the community who cannot go out.”
For more information on the Fair Close service, call the centre on (01635) 40488 or 41294, or email fc-ageconcern@btconnect.com