Downturn hits day centre lunch

Jun 11 2009 By Jack Abell, Buckinghamshire Advertiser

A DAY centre for elderly people has been left in turmoil after being told that the meals given to its guests can no longer be provided.

Gerrards Cross and District Age Concern, which meets once a week in the hall of Goldhill Baptist Church in Chalfont St Peter, was given the news at its annual meeting on May 26.

Rock House, a nearby home for old people, has been providing the meals at a small cost, but says that it can no longer afford to provide them due to the pressures of the recession.

Organisers of Age Concern have offered to pay the costs themselves but have been told that this will not be possible, and food is not allowed to prepared at the site itself because of health and safety issues.

The elderly guests at the site were told the news yesterday. Ruth Procter, deputy chairman of the group, said: "They are going to be devastated.

"We cannot run the centre without lunch and we looking into alternatives, but this is very bad news for us.

"The old people look forward very much to coming along once a week and they all get dressed up. It is good for their carers as well because it gives them a bit of break.

"It is vitally important that we find another way of providing meals for them."

Organisers of the day centre say that they have tried to discuss the issue with Rock House but management has remained firm.

A statement from Stephen Kirkpatrick, chairman of the home, said: "It is with regret that we are unable to provide these lunches from August 1.

"This is due to the current economic downturn which is affecting all charities and difficulties in meeting stringent food hygiene requirements in supplying food which is transported from the premises."

Jennifer Woolveridge chairman of the Age Concern branch, said: "The bottom line is that if we can't find an alternative arrangement, we may not be able to continue operating, but we are working hard to stop this from happening."