Release date: 31 August 2022
Elderly and vulnerable people across the county will continue to receive more than just a meal after West Sussex County Council agreed an innovative new partnership that is set to commence in October this year.
Meals on wheels customers will still get to enjoy award-winning food made and supplied by apetito, which will now be delivered by Health and Independent Living Support (HILS) West Sussex, for at least the next five years.
HILS drivers and customer support teams will continue to offer important welfare checks while delivering meals, to ensure customers are well, healthy and safe. They also provide company to those who might not otherwise have any visitors and become isolated.
Councillor Amanda Jupp, Cabinet Member for Adults’ Services, said: “Our new five-year partnership with HILS West Sussex demonstrates our long-term commitment to providing a meals on wheels service that provides a lifeline to so many of our residents, at a time when many local authorities have chosen to end theirs.
“It helps many people continue to live independently in their own homes and provides the peace of mind that they will receive regular visits that not only offer hot and nutritious meals, but also a friendly face, company and someone to check they are safe and well. It’s a service which really does offer more than just a meal.”
Sarah Wren OBE, HILS Chief Executive and Associate Member of the Malnutrition Task Force, added: “We are thrilled to be working with our long-standing partner, apetito, and a great supporter of meals on wheels services, West Sussex County Council, to continue their excellent work. Our caring teams have been supporting thousands of people in Hertfordshire for nearly 15 years. It is a great privilege to be able to help many hundreds more in a new area.”
Ian Stone, Chief Commercial Officer for apetito said: “This is a perfect combination of specialist partners adding real value to the meals on wheels provision. Whist apetito are clear market leaders in food provision, the introduction of HILS, who have a celebrated and award-winning history of provision of meals on wheels in Hertfordshire, with a range of added-value services, will add real benefit to local residents.”
For more information about the meals on wheels service, or to sign up to receive meals in West Sussex contact please call 01225 759691.
