The appointment was confirmed at the annual general meeting yesterday (9 October) as NACC members gathered for the Training and development Forum 2019 at the East Midlands Conference Centre.
Cawthray has over 30 years experience in the elderly care sector, focussing on business management, strategic planning and fundraising. During these 30 years she has advocated for good nutrition and hydration in food as well as preventing social isolation. She has been a member of the NACC for 18 years and has served time as national chair between 2007-2009.
On her appointment, Cawthray said: “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to be national chair of the NACC again, particularly at a time when care has so many challenges.
“More than ever, we must be innovative and creative in delivering nutrition and hydration into care homes, meals on wheels services and other related services for those who are vulnerable and socially isolated. Neel Radia has done a fantastic job, achieving many things over the past six years, and I look forward to continuing his good work.
“It’s also important that we continue to engage with other organisations that provide services to older people across the UK, so that everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life wherever they may live.”
Under her leadership Harrogate Neighbours Housing Association launched the award-winning Harrogate Food Angels, which made a positive impact on the meals on wheels service in the area. In 2012 she led the NACC to gain the Guinness World Record for the most identical community meals delivered in three hours.
Cawthray officially becomes national chair tomorrow (11 October) after Neel Radia, the NACC’s longest-serving national chair, stepped down after a six-year tenure.
Radia added: “I pass the baton onto Sue with pride and confidence. Sue’s care catering expertise is second to none and I know that she’ll continue to drive the association forward as the voice of the sector and in its objective to raise awareness of and standards in care catering.
“We’ve achieved so much in a short space of time, from taking the meals on wheels fight to Government to delivering the first official qualification for health and social care catering and setting up the Training Academy, to name just a few.
“I’m not going far, and I remain dedicated to the NACC. I’ll be supporting Sue and the association on the National Executive, leading the development of the NACC Training Academy.”