A FOREST meals-on-wheels service is still looking for ways to “diversify and grow” after overcoming many obstacles to provide for those in need during the pandemic.

Forest Mobile Meals launched last year following the closure of the former 30-year-old service by owners Age Concern Forest of Dean in March due to insufficient funding.

Age Concern announced in January last year that it was closing its service which had catered for around 130 elderly people at home and 10 luncheon clubs, as well as providing meals at Newnham Primary School.

The closure had left the service’s former customers in need before a Forest businessman came to their aid, funding the service’s commercial kitchens in Cinderford, re-employing staff and relaunching as Forest Mobile Meals.

But shortly after the relaunch, the UK went into lockdown for the first time due to Covid, and operational issues, as well as funding difficulties, began to arise.

Core team member Melvyn Wilkins explained: “The first lockdown threw up many new issues for us.

“We lost our school, lunch club and residential centre client base overnight. On top of this we had to close our two charity shops, another good source of income, and these will probably not reopen.

“At the same time many of our volunteer drivers, some of whom are well into retirement, had to self-isolate.

“We were able to use furloughed people and even Cinderford Fire & Rescue Service came and delivered for us in their Land Rover fire appliance.”

Melvyn said that as well as staffing and income issues, social distancing had made the job all the more difficult for staff and volunteers.

“Firstly we had to source all the necessary PPE required and then train staff and volunteers on Covid-19 requirements and safeguards.

“Our kitchen staff had to work under difficult conditions and some of our clients didn’t want our drivers in their home, leading to more reduction in numbers.

“Although we pride ourself on plating up the meals in the home, we needed to purchase more thermal food containers so that we could leave meals on the doorstep.

“Other problems were overcome by the client remaining in another room until the meal was plated and the driver left, all making our meal production and delivery costlier and harder still.”

In May last year, the charity came up with the idea of providing a takeaway service from its kitchen to raise more money and subsidise the meals service.

Melvyn said the service had been a “great success”, with many tradespeople and lorry drivers from the Forest Vale Industrial Estate going to them for breakfasts, coffees, lunches and mid-morning snacks.

The charity is planning to expand this service when lockdown ends, offering buffets, sandwiches and platters for meetings, events and lunches.

“Without this extra revenue source we would have really struggled, but it benefited us by keeping all the kitchen team fully employed rather than having to furlough them”, Melvyn said.

Community fundraising and charity grants dried up during the pandemic, but Forest of Dean District Council stepped in to help the charity as much as they could.

Melvyn commented: “We were very grateful and without their help we couldn’t continue.”

Around this time, the charity found that there was a constant requirement for ongoing repairs and equipment replacement, which would have been a massive drain on their “already dwindling” funds.

To their delight, a host of local businesses and tradespeople came to their aid, providing equipment, food and running much-needed fundraising.

Melvyn said: “The people of the Forest are amazing and so many came to our rescue.

“We had high visibility vests for our drivers from Travis Perkins in Cinderford, a replacement fridge from Severn Dean Lions, a freezer, washing machine and microwave and a chilled drinks fridge from Lucozade Ribena Suntory, which we needed for our takeaway service.

“It wasn’t just equipment either, tradespeople helped us and we had food donated by Morrisons Community Champions, The Happy Apple Fruit & Veg Co. and charity FareShare Go.

“Four local butchers donate meat for our Wednesday roasts, Vale in Drybrook, Kevin’s in Mitcheldean, Camerons in Cinderford and Eskimart in Coleford.

“Local groups have raised money for us, with Court Farm Garage in Littledean having run a fundraising campaign on our behalf.

“Recently we have received a huge boost financially from the KW Bell Group who have become our Silver Sponsor. This will go towards upgrading our kitchen further.

Melvyn said that the charity had recently introduced collection boxes to several shops and businesses around the Forest and was “still looking at ways to diversify and grow”.

“Our big achievement has been joining up with the Forest Lottery”, he continued.

“Many people haven’t heard of it but it is administered by FODDC and weekly tickets cost £1, from which we get 50p and 10p goes to other worthy causes within the Forest.

“Top prize is £25,000 with other cash prizes too, anyone wishing to support us needs to register at www.forestlottery.co.uk and select Forest Mobile Meals as their chosen cause.

Melvyn added that the charity was aiming to reach more people and restore their lunch clubs once Covid restrictions are lifted.

“We feel our success is down to the fact we use local produce, freshly prepared by a passionate team of staff and volunteers, and drivers who care and serve the meal up in the home,” Melvyn added.

“As it says on our logo, “No one need go hungry” and this is our motto which we live up to.”

More information about the charity can be found at www.forestmobilemeals.org.