CREWE’S WISHING WELL PROJECT RECEIVES £1,000 DONATION TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Helping to recognise the outstanding contribution the Wishing Well team provide in supporting the wellbeing of local older people, the McCarthy Stone Foundation has donated £1,000 to support its ‘Age Well’ programme.
Based at Jubilee House on Saint Paul’s Street, the project delivers between 120 and 140 meals every day to the elderly and vulnerable across Crewe, Nantwich and the wider Cheshire area as part of its range of services including domestic support, luncheon clubs, and learning courses.
According to UK food charity, City Harvest, one in 10 people aged over 65 are facing food poverty due to rising food prices and limited access to food as a result of social isolation . Initiatives like the Wishing Well Project ensure those most in need do not have to go without.
From cottage pie to bangers and mash and fruit crumble to trifle, the two-course meals are freshly prepared on the day, with the Wishing Well team and local volunteers at their cooking station from as early as 6.30am.
The charity relies heavily on funding, along with money made from the meal delivery service to support its outreach – and with the cost-of-living crisis continuing to bite, the Wishing Well Project was at one point forced to question its longevity. Spotting an opportunity to help, the McCarthy Stone Foundation stepped in and donated £1,000 as part of its Happier, Healthier Project to use towards the cost of transport and ingredients. The Happier, Healthier Project aims to provide financial assistance to community groups that help to support the independence and wellbeing of older people in the local area.
Charles Maines, CEO of the Wishing Well Project, comments: “We can’t thank the McCarthy Stone Foundation enough for their generous donation. Wishing Well has become a key part of Crewe and surrounding areas, providing vital services and activities to support the health and wellbeing of the local community.
“The donation will help to cover petrol costs, as well as the cost of ingredients which are sourced locally. As with many charities, the cost-of-living crisis has been tough on us and there’s been points when we’ve been unsure whether we’d be able to keep up what we’re doing. Thanks to the support of committed partners, like the McCarthy Stone Foundation, we can continue to ensure that everyone has access to the support they need.”
The McCarthy Stone Foundation supports grassroots, volunteer led charitable causes that promote the health and wellbeing of older people. It is the independent, registered charity of the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, McCarthy Stone, which has submitted a planning application for a new Retirement Living development on Chester Street in Crewe.
Declan Fishwick, Business Development Manager at McCarthy Stone, comments: “Supporting and engaging with the communities close to our developments is a key focus at McCarthy Stone and we are delighted, in partnership with the McCarthy Stone Foundation, to lend a helping hand to the Wishing Well Project in Crewe.
“As a company specialising in the development of friendly and welcoming communities for retirees, the happiness and welfare of older people is at the heart of everything we do. This makes initiatives such as this a great fit for us. We look forward to seeing the Wishing Well Project continue its work in supporting the wider community through its range of activities and services.”
