Produced in collaboration with the charity Sustain and the Sustainable Food Cities Network, the four alternative models showcase positive approaches to sustaining services in an economic climate that has seen a number of services close.
Neel Radia, the national chair of the NACC, said: “In these challenging economic circumstances we have seen inspirational examples of opportunity and innovation from local authorities determined to sustain their Meals on Wheels services.
“We believe that this could be the solution to protecting the service for future generations and this is why we have produced the case studies to share with as many decision makers and influencers as possible.
“We are urging all local authorities to take inspiration and consider new approaches in their localities in order to save the valuable service that enables our older population to live safely in their own homes and communities for longer.”
NACC research in November found that the number of councils providing Meals on Wheels to vulnerable and older people living independently in their own homes dropped below 50% for the first time, with just 48% of authorities providing a service compared with 66% only two years prior.
The four case studies, which can be viewed here, are from: Hertfordshire Independent Living Service; CATERed in Plymouth; Tayside Contracts, Scotland; and Gwent Blaenau, Wales.