Salt of the Earth is a partnership between North Yorkshire County Council and the Darlington and Stockton Times to celebrate acts of kindness across our communities. This month, Alexa Fox reports on a meals on wheels scheme backed by a village pub that has been a great comfort to vulnerable people during lockdown and beyond.

ALL businesses have had to adapt during the coronavirus crisis and some have gone above and beyond to help the most vulnerable in their communities.

And one pub that has put the welfare of its local elderly residents at the forefront is The White Swan in Gilling West near Richmond.

Working with Age UK Darlington and North Yorkshire, the pub has been providing discounted two-course meals throughout lockdown and into the present day for elderly and vulnerable people in the locale to enjoy.

The meals are delivered daily by volunteers and have provided vital sustenance and eased anxiety for people who were self-isolating during the height of lockdown.

Dean Hodgson, owner and chef at The White Horse, said he was delighted to get involved in the scheme when he heard about it from the chief executive of the region’s Age UK.

And he went even further by delivering some of the meals himself in the earliest days of the scheme before the volunteer delivery network had been fully set up.

He said: “We were really keen to help and it gave us something to do when we had to shut in the early lockdown.

“It was about giving back to the community.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

“At that time there was a shortage of goods, people were struggling to get hold of ingredients so we did food packages.

“There are elderly people in the village and it was a nice thing to be involved with.

“It was nice seeing the impact on people who we were delivering the meals for and having that face to face contact when they were isolating during lockdown.”

One grateful recipient of the meals on wheels scheme is 83-year-old Richmond resident Patricia Carlsen.

She has friends visiting her regularly since her family don’t live locally and she was full of praise for the meals, which she receives every day.

She said: “They are really lovely and I am looking very well for having them.

“It has been a very positive thing for me.”

“If I could say anything to the chef and the people who organise them I would say ‘I love you, whoever you may be!’”

Helen Hunter, CEO of Age UK Darlington and North Yorkshire, said: “As the country locked down and we saw the supermarket shelves empty we were deeply concerned that many older people would suffer from lack of food provision.

“We started our hot meals delivery service to ensure that older and vulnerable people had the opportunity to access one hot, nutritionally balanced meal a day.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

“The White Swan was the first restaurant we contacted to help us reach people outside of areas covered by our own kitchen and Dean was very happy to offer his kitchen and team to help.

“We are very grateful for the help and support he alongside our other partners Thorpe Farm, Central Stop Café, Anderson’s of Middleham and Cobble Kitchen have so generously given us.

“This has made a big difference to older people in the community and has helped to keep them fit and well during this difficult time.”

  • Do you know someone who is going the extra mile in their community? Get involved and nominate them to feature in the Salt of The Earth movement by email at saltoftheearth@northyorks.gov.uk