Running 365 days a year, the service provides hot, nutritious, ready to eat meals to people who may struggle to cook or shop. Every meal delivered also includes a friendly face and vital wellbeing check. Hampshire County Council partnered with Health & Independent Living Support (HILS) to deliver the service in November 2023.
Councillor Zoe Huggins, Executive Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health said: “Reaching the milestone of half a million meals really demonstrates the scale and importance of this service. Every delivery includes a wellbeing check, and if something doesn’t seem right, the team makes sure it’s followed up. That reassurance for residents and their families is what truly sets Meals on Wheels apart.
“Our partnership with HILS has already improved the lives of thousands of people, and we’re continuing to build on that success. Most recently, we’ve been working with NHS colleagues on a pilot to extend the service to people returning home from hospital.”
Tom Cottam, Deputy Chief Executive of HILS, added: “Our Community Team Members are trained to spot concerns. They’ll plate up a meal, fetch cutlery, offer a glass of water, and – crucially - follow a ‘no reply’ procedure if a client doesn’t come to the door, escalating to our customer services team who will contact family members, neighbours or a GP when needed.”
Meals on Wheels offers more than just a meal – it offers peace of mind to family members and friends.
- Daily wellbeing checks: every driver is trained to notice changes and raise concerns
- Safeguarding built-in‑: a clear no reply‑ procedure means meals are never just left at the door
- Consistency and trust: all staff are DBS checked, wear uniform and ID, and deliver on regular routes between 11:15am and 2:15pm
- Meals for all needs: a wide menu is available, including allergen aware, texture modified, Kosher, Halal, Asian and West Indian options
Residents, families, carers, or professionals can access the meals on wheels service online or by phone.
- Online: Meals on Wheels Referral Form - Hampshire
- Phone: 0330 2000 103
The service is open to people in the Hampshire County Council area (excluding Portsmouth and Southampton), with eligibility based on need. Private (self-funding) options are also available.
Find out more about Meals on Wheels on the County Council website - Meals on Wheels