Vulnerable Westminster residents aged 65 and over will be able to have hot meals delivered and plated up for them under council plans.
The scheme, for which Westminster City Council is currently seeking a supplier, is to be rolled out over the winter at a cost of around £150,000.
Mehfuz Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer at Age UK Westminster, praised it as a “great scheme for older residents” which will not only deliver meals but also provide some “much-needed companionship”.
According to the council’s live tender, the hot meals will be for older vulnerable residents “to improve and promote health and wellbeing, independence and reduce social isolation”.
It reads: “The hot meals service will provide freshly cooked hot meals to be served at the resident’s home in Westminster. The meal must be plated up for the service user, reducing the associated risks such as burns and kitchen accidents.
“The provider should provide a welfare check when dropping of [sic] the meal, this should comprise of checking the individual is safe, not in immediate danger and is coping with any challenges they may be facing.”
The service is also to provide access to community meals for those unable to attend on their own.
It is expected that residents will pay a council-subsidised £2 for each meal, which will in turn be passed on to Westminster on a quarterly basis.
Once a provider has been appointed, eligible residents will be able to access the support either through a referral or by self-referral.
A deadline to submit a response to the tender is listed as September 5, with the contract expected to begin on November 1.
Mr Ahmed told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “This will be a great scheme for older residents in Westminster, offering the choice of a freshly cooked hot meal served on a plate in their own home. An added benefit is that the person delivering the meal will also check on the resident’s health and wellbeing, while providing some much-needed companionship.”
Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, Westminster City Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Voluntary Sector, said: “Our hot meals service is about far more than delivering food – it’s a vital part of supporting older, vulnerable residents in Westminster to live independently, with dignity, choice, and control. The nutritious, hot meals are either delivered to homes or available in community settings, which has the added benefit of reducing social isolation.
“We recognise the pressures many face during winter months and the cost of living crisis, which is why this service plays a crucial role in improving health and wellbeing for older residents who may be housebound or living alone. Providing hot meals to residents is an important step towards tackling inequalities and fostering a stronger, healthier community across Westminster.”
Ben Lynch is a Local Democracy Reporter covering the City of London, Hammersmith & Fulham, Westminster, and Kensington and Chelsea. A former contributor to Harrow Online, he reports on local government, housing, planning, transport and issues affecting communities across London.
