This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/03/less-than-half-of-councils-still-offering-meals-on-wheels
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Less than half of councils still offering meals on wheels | Less than half of councils still offering meals on wheels |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Less than half of the UK’s local authorities offer meals on wheels services to elderly and vulnerable people, according to new research into the impact of cuts on local government. | Less than half of the UK’s local authorities offer meals on wheels services to elderly and vulnerable people, according to new research into the impact of cuts on local government. |
| A quarter of councils have stopped offering the service since 2014, figures published this weekend by the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) have revealed. | A quarter of councils have stopped offering the service since 2014, figures published this weekend by the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) have revealed. |
| The north of England, which has seen the highest cuts to local authorities’ budgets since 2010, is also the worst area for meals on wheels. Just 13% of councils in the north-west provide the service, while 17% in the north-east do. | The north of England, which has seen the highest cuts to local authorities’ budgets since 2010, is also the worst area for meals on wheels. Just 13% of councils in the north-west provide the service, while 17% in the north-east do. |
| Meals-on wheels services are seen by campaigners as a crucial way to ensure that vulnerable older people are provided with a hot meal and human contact on a daily basis. | Meals-on wheels services are seen by campaigners as a crucial way to ensure that vulnerable older people are provided with a hot meal and human contact on a daily basis. |
| In the east of England and London, nearly one in three councils have cut their meals on wheels services in the last few years, according to the figures. In Yorkshire and the Humber, nearly one in four have. | In the east of England and London, nearly one in three councils have cut their meals on wheels services in the last few years, according to the figures. In Yorkshire and the Humber, nearly one in four have. |
| All councils in Northern Ireland provided meals on wheels services up until 2016, but one in five have stopped doing so in the past two years. | All councils in Northern Ireland provided meals on wheels services up until 2016, but one in five have stopped doing so in the past two years. |
| The reductions are caused by the government’s cuts to adult social care budgets, according to NACC. The Local Government Association estimates that adult social care faces a £3.5bn funding gap by 2025. | The reductions are caused by the government’s cuts to adult social care budgets, according to NACC. The Local Government Association estimates that adult social care faces a £3.5bn funding gap by 2025. |
| Neel Radia, NACC chair, said meals on wheels are about more than food provision. | Neel Radia, NACC chair, said meals on wheels are about more than food provision. |
| “For many older and vulnerable people, the meals on wheels delivery might be the only friendly face they see from one day to the next,” he said. | “For many older and vulnerable people, the meals on wheels delivery might be the only friendly face they see from one day to the next,” he said. |
| Adult social care services on brink of collapse, survey shows | Adult social care services on brink of collapse, survey shows |
| In October, Theresa May called on postal workers to check up on lonely people during their usual delivery rounds, as part of a national loneliness strategy. | In October, Theresa May called on postal workers to check up on lonely people during their usual delivery rounds, as part of a national loneliness strategy. |
| Radia said: “Meals on wheels already provides this vital contact. But when it comes to concrete action to support this efficient and beneficial service, we only see shrinking budgets.” | Radia said: “Meals on wheels already provides this vital contact. But when it comes to concrete action to support this efficient and beneficial service, we only see shrinking budgets.” |
| Social care | Social care |
| Food poverty | Food poverty |
| Poverty | Poverty |
| Social exclusion | Social exclusion |
| Local government | Local government |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |