Volunteers protest over Cumbria County Council’s changes to meals on wheels service

The cost of a meal from the service, which is delivered by volunteers, will rise from £1.60 to £2.60 next month, and there are plans to scrap the daily fresh meal delivery for some people.

Representatives of the 40 volunteers in and around Appleby attended a meeting to discuss the plans and sign a letter condemning the changes.

The letter has been presented to Penrith and the Border MP David Maclean.

WRVS Meals on Wheels manager for Cumbria Janet Ford contacted volunteers to inform them about the price increase, and the decision to end the hot meal delivery service to people who have been assessed as not needing any other services. Instead, these people would be offered alternatives, such as frozen meals.

Ms Ford said: "WRVS are extremely unhappy about these decisions. We fought hard before they went to cabinet, but to no avail."

Appleby town councillor Maggie Clowes, who delivers meals with her husband to older people in the town, hosted a meeting for local volunteers.

She told the meeting: "I have applied through the Freedom of Information (Act) to see where the extra money will be going - is it coming into Cumbria County Council's shortfall or to benefit our clients?"

CCC agreed at its annual budget setting meeting to increase the price of Meals on Wheels at the same time as announcing that it was to invest an extra £4.3 million in adult social care services over the next financial year.

A council spokesman said:"Under the new community meals service, people who need a hot meal will continue to receive one but will also get the option of weekly or fortnightly delivered frozen meals - with a much wider menu to choose from.

"The frozen meals service will also be provided to more able Meals on Wheels users, and an extra £60,000 each year will be invested in local visiting services for those who require them."