A MEALS on wheels service that provides a ‘vital lifeline’ to vulnerable elderly Foresters has been saved from closure after a benefactor bought and relaunched it.

Kitchen boss Tracey Meek and her staff pledged to fight to keep the service open after previous owners Age Concern Forest of Dean said they were closing down the 30-year-old operation last January.

And after the charity went into voluntary insolvency in March a Forest businessman came to their aid, funding the service’s commercial kitchens in Cinderford’s Forest Road Industrial Estate, re-employing the staff and relaunching as new charity Forest Mobile Meals.

Tracey said: “We are absolutely delighted, particularly at this time when vulnerable elderly people who rely on us are even more isolated than ever.

“When Age Concern said they were closing, we pledged to fight to keep going for our clients, as they were absolutely devastated.

“It’s brilliant that we have managed to save the service and are up and running again.

“We had a week down at Mitcheldean Community Centre before we got the keys back to the kitchens, and we obviously had to put in new procedures with the Covid virus before we opened, but we’re back providing a vital lifeline to our clients.

“We still have the majority of our clients and are really hopeful for the future about expanding the operation, with plans also to reopen the charity shop in Cinderford to held funding,” added Tracey, who has been with the service for 18 years.

“We’re currently doing three hot meals a week, plus chilled meals on other days for more than 100 clients and have branched out into selling bacon rolls from the kitchens on the industrial estate, which has really taken off.

“We’ve also been boosted during the lockdown by volunteers helping us out on furlough, making deliveries in full PPE gear and helping in the kitchens.

“Going out and seeing our clients, many who are in their 80s and older, it means so much to them that we can still offer this service, especially during the current pandemic.

“Many are isolated at home and to see a friendly face, even two metres away, and to get a hot meal makes such a difference. To see the joy on their faces is so rewarding.

“Myself and the rest of the staff felt we had to fight to save it. Seven of us have now come back to work in the kitchens and we’re all delighted.

“And the benefactor, who is a local man but doesn’t want any publicity, has tried our food and says it’s really good, which is always a bonus!”

Age Concern Forest of Dean said at the end of January it was closing the service - which catered for around 130 elderly people at home, nine to 10 luncheon clubs and provided meals at Newnham Primary School - earlier this year owing to a lack of funds, which staff described as an “absolute bombshell”.

Meals were provided until mid-March when the staff were made redundant and the charity went into voluntary insolvency.

Trustees chair Dr Daphne Pearson said at the time the service could be reopened if someone came forward with sufficient funding.

“No-one has more regrets than I do that substantial core funding was not available for the continuation of the meals service by Age Concern,” she said.

Anyone wanting to book meals on wheels can contact Forest Mobile Meals by calling 01594 827927 or emailing [email protected]