The official figures from Guinness World Records that have just been released, state that the NACC delivered 526 community meals in three hours across 16 locations in England. This was 226 more meals than required to secure the title.
Karen Oliver, chair of the NACC, said: “We decided to go for the World Record to raise the profile of the vital community meals service that serves the vulnerable in society 365 days a year, in all conditions.
“As there had never been a record attempt of this kind, Guinness had to organise one for us and establish stringent rules to validate it. However, these rules inadvertently restricted the number of community meals providers able to participate.
“For example the rule that each delivery van and driver had to be accompanied by an independent professional witness automatically excluded those with no room in the van for the witness. And those without the equipment to photograph or video each delivery also could not take part.
“Regular occurrences that obviously take priority, such as having to call an ambulance and stay with a service user who had taken a fall, also affected the results.
“Consequently, the official figures are just a drop in the ocean compared to those we collected. Although our unofficial figures are in no way conclusive of the whole of the UK market in any one meal serving, they give a strong indication of the reality.”
For the attempt participating community meals providers across the UK successfully served to customers the specially-developed two-course menu of roast beef, potatoes and seasonal vegetables, rounded off with the Great British favourite pudding of apple crumble and custard.
The attempt was made on October 1st 2012 between 11am and 1pm, the first day of the NACC’s annual Community Meals Week promotion. The chosen date also coincided with International Older Persons Day.
Oliver said the delay in confirming the record was due to the complex nature of the adjudication process put in place by Guinness, and the sheer volume of evidence to be reviewed, cross checked and verified – including witness statements, witness verification sheets, photographs, videos and signing sheets.
Unofficial NACC figures suggest more than 20,000 elderly, disabled and housebound people in the UK actually used the community meal lifeline between 11am and 1pm on that day.