On 12 December, we mark eight years of what is now Village Kitchen, a journey that began with our former life as Playpen Café. Although Playpen Café was a child and family-focused social enterprise and quite different from what we do today, it formed an important part of our story. Village Kitchen would not exist without the foundation it created.
When the Covid-19 pandemic began, we paused our family-focused activities and repurposed what we had. That included our catering equipment, a small group of volunteers and a strong sense that we could be doing something useful. At the same time, government guidance asked over-70s to stay at home. It quickly became clear that many older people in our community were seriously isolated and needed support.
We began delivering hot, home-cooked meals to people who were alone, housebound or otherwise unable to shop or cook. The service was well received, and we soon found that the need extended well beyond the pandemic. Many of the people we met were already living alone, not seeing others regularly and not eating well. These were practical problems, but they also had knock-on effects such as hospital admissions or earlier-than-necessary moves into care.
As restrictions eased, we wanted to create more opportunities for people to come together in person. We launched Thursday Lunch Club in 2020, starting with just a handful of guests, masks and distancing in place. It has since grown to welcome around 50 people each week, including care home guests from Parklands and Hillview, and people who join us from across the Hillfoots and Alloa.
Today, Village Kitchen delivers Meals on Wheels throughout the Forth Valley. We run a weekly Lunch Club and monthly Big Day Out bus trips, providing not just meals but connection, conversation and regular social contact.
We continue to rely on our volunteers and local supporters to help us reach those who need it most. Thank you to everyone who has played a part in getting us to this point. We are proud of what we have built together, and we look forward to the years to come.
