Keeping Walsall well and warm

Ingredients to create nutritious meals will be delivered to the door of some Walsall residents as part of a ‘well and warm’ campaign by Walsall Housing Group (whg) and NHS Walsall.

To benefit, an individual must have a diagnosed health condition that worsens in the cold weather, be aged up to 16 or at least 50 and be in receipt (or their parent be in receipt) of a qualifying benefit.

The deliveries will run for six weeks starting this month.

Food co-operative WalsALL Fresh, funded and supported by NHS Walsall, will distribute a weekly food parcel, complete with corresponding recipe cards, to 125 people across the borough. Recipes will include hearty stews and soups.

Recipients will also be given a pack, funded by whg, containing a blanket, flask, thermal socks, hat, scarf and gloves. Qualifying children will receive a winter coat and thermal underwear in addition.
This is the third year the project has run and the first time it includes children. The aims of the campaign are to prevent admission to hospital with a weather related complaint; provide a weekly welfare check for vulnerable residents and improve children’s attainment at school by reducing time off due to illness.

It is being delivered by whg’s NOW! Team with funding from VIEW, a fund held jointly by whg and Walsall Council.

Project co-ordinator Julie Elwell, of whg, said: “This is a practical and low cost way of supporting vulnerable people during the winter. Keeping people warm with useful, seasonal items and healthy food does prevent health conditions, such as asthma, becoming worse. Customer feedback tells us the support is very much appreciated.”

whg has taken referrals from Age Concern, Walsall Black Sisters, its in-house Floating Support Team and Harden Primary School to compile the list of beneficiaries.