Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow MP delivers a meal to Winslow resident Mrs Georgette Newell to raise awareness of community meals during National Community Meals Week 2011.

On Thursday 6th October 2011, John Bercow joined Sheila Haslop, Apetito's Bucks Depot Manager on their daily round of deliveries to Buckinghamshire residents.

Organised by The National Association of Care Catering (NACC), National Community Meals Week (3-7 October 2011) aimed to raise awareness of this vital service, which enables many elderly, disabled or vulnerable people to remain in their own homes long after they would otherwise have been hospitalised or taken into residential care.

John was delighted to support the initiative as a keen supporter and advocate of community meals.

He said: “Meals in the community are really important to keep people healthy, nourished and in their own homes. But it goes further than the food itself – socialisation is a very important aspect and many of the people receiving community meals have no other point of personal contact. It’s hard to imagine how isolated those individuals can sometimes feel and the service being delivered is outstanding and reaches to people in need.”

John also made a guest appearance on BBC Three Counties Radio during the week to further promote community meals, and particularly how running a meals on wheels service can help to save councils money by keeping people in their own homes for longer - potentially preventing or postponing the need for the far more expensive residential or hospital care.