Meals on wheels service set to come back to town
Wednesday, 27th April 2011.
The provision of meals on wheels in the Haverhill area could soon return to being based in the town.
The Haverhill operation was closed in 2008 after 63 years, when the WRVS decided to re-organise the service and provide it from Bury St Edmunds.
The recent notification that the cost of the service was to rise from £3.50 to £5 galvanised Haverhill Town Council and local meals on wheels volunteers to talk about an alternative.
Town councillors were told at last night's meeting by town clerk Gordon Mussett that the meeting had been very fruitful and the WRVS had some 'exciting' ideas about how the servoice could be developed.
They also said thyey could provide the service at a cost of £4 if the town council made the Arts Centre kitchen available again free of charge.
"The WRVS recognises the value of the service and will work with the town council to provide for meals at £4," he said.
"They were also enthused by current plans concerning the Burton Centre coming through into the future, which may offer opportunities to set up day clubs, classes, etc."
He said they were looking to recruit a part-time locality manager, who would be funded by the town council at a cost of £11,500 a year,to develop the service in new ways and increase the current take-up of about 45 customers.
The sevice will require two cooks/delivery drivers for a seven-day-a-week service, and will recruit volunteers to support all services.
Cllr Maureen Byrne described it as 'a fabulous opportunity for the town', but she wanted the appointment of the locality manager to be for a fixed term to begin with,so it could be reviewed before being made permanent.
"We have a responsibility to make sure it's successful," she said.
Cllr Phillip French also welcomed the idea. "I was not comfortable with the service being taken out of local hands," he said. "A lot of people dependent on meals on wheels are housebound. Meals on wheels must be provided at a price customers are prepared to pay."
Members decided on a 12-month fixed term contract to begin with, which would then be reviewed.
The Haverhill operation was closed in 2008 after 63 years, when the WRVS decided to re-organise the service and provide it from Bury St Edmunds.
The recent notification that the cost of the service was to rise from £3.50 to £5 galvanised Haverhill Town Council and local meals on wheels volunteers to talk about an alternative.
Town councillors were told at last night's meeting by town clerk Gordon Mussett that the meeting had been very fruitful and the WRVS had some 'exciting' ideas about how the servoice could be developed.
They also said thyey could provide the service at a cost of £4 if the town council made the Arts Centre kitchen available again free of charge.
"The WRVS recognises the value of the service and will work with the town council to provide for meals at £4," he said.
"They were also enthused by current plans concerning the Burton Centre coming through into the future, which may offer opportunities to set up day clubs, classes, etc."
He said they were looking to recruit a part-time locality manager, who would be funded by the town council at a cost of £11,500 a year,to develop the service in new ways and increase the current take-up of about 45 customers.
The sevice will require two cooks/delivery drivers for a seven-day-a-week service, and will recruit volunteers to support all services.
Cllr Maureen Byrne described it as 'a fabulous opportunity for the town', but she wanted the appointment of the locality manager to be for a fixed term to begin with,so it could be reviewed before being made permanent.
"We have a responsibility to make sure it's successful," she said.
Cllr Phillip French also welcomed the idea. "I was not comfortable with the service being taken out of local hands," he said. "A lot of people dependent on meals on wheels are housebound. Meals on wheels must be provided at a price customers are prepared to pay."
Members decided on a 12-month fixed term contract to begin with, which would then be reviewed.
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