Northgate House Catering Team will be busy preparing turkey with all the trimmings and other delicious meals for care leavers early next week which will be safely delivered to the young people ahea...
Northgate House Catering Team will be busy preparing turkey with all the trimmings and other delicious meals for care leavers early next week which will be safely delivered to the young people ahead of Christmas day.
Around 45 of the county’s 200 care leavers live independently with little support so the meals have been offered to them to spread some Christmas cheer and let them know that people are thinking of them. Other meals including pasta and meatballs, sausage and mash, fish and chips or vegetable pasties, will join roast turkey on the menu. Puddings will also be served up including fruit crumble and jam sponge along with party snacks. Each young person will receive at least two meals and a selection of snacks and drinks.
A number of council departments have been involved in the process. The food was largely provided by the teams responsible for supporting the shielding hubs earlier this year with extra supplies from Northgate House Catering and children’s services. The leaving care team made contact with the young people and will be responsible for making deliveries whilst facilities staff will be involved in prepping the kitchens and preparing the food.
Anything left over will be donated to homeless shelters, local food schemes and Warwickshire food banks.
Warwickshire County Councillor, Jeff Morgan, Portfolio Holder for Childrens Services said: “The council takes its role of corporate parent very seriously and this does not stop when our young people leave care.
“Becoming a young adult can be a challenging time, harder still if you have grown up without family and are navigating the world alone. It is important that we do everything we can to support those who may be feeling alone and vulnerable, now more than ever.
“I commend the council teams who have all pulled together to ensure these young people will be able to enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch and some extra treats at home this year.”
The young people were really pleased and grateful to hear about the plan. Summing up the difference some Christmas kindness makes, one care leaver commented: “I think this is a great idea. It's nice to see that you are thinking of us at Xmas time. Things like this mean a lot and show that there is support out there when you need it. I hope this type of thing carries on because it does help out.”
The care leaver’s Christmas lunch is just part of the support offered to Warwickshire’s care leavers at this time. Earlier this month the council collected and distributed Christmas decorations for these young people and ex-foster carer Norma Wilson assembled over 230 hampers full of festive goodies and household provisions.