Casserole Club combating loneliness for older people in rural communities

A community in the rural area of Reigate and Banstead has been addressing the issue of loneliness facing older people through an innovative project called Casserole Club.

The project encourages people to share extra portions of their home cooked food with older people in the community who might otherwise live in isolation, in order to minimise their feelings of loneliness.

The purpose of Casserole Club is to strengthen the relationships in rural areas by reaching older people who have retired in the countryside and can benefit from both the healthy meals and the social interaction the project provides.

Matt Skinner, project leader at Casserole Club, said: “In the countryside, few older people have the neighbourhood networks to allow them to find people who can support them. Casserole Club uses what we’ve learnt from other food networks, meals on wheels services, and anecdotes of “how things once were” to rethink how using social technology design could rekindle neighbourhood connections and help older people living in rural areas.”

Key Letchford, a participant in the project, commented on her positive experience of the service, and said: “I love seeing new people and enjoy the wonderful food they cook. It brings me much pleasure to talk to great people, who are so kind and share some time with me. Many thanks to you all.”

Another diner, Mary, said: “Up until a year ago I was mobile... I don’t go to the supermarket much now so it’s really nice to see someone come to the house. It was perfect, a casserole... piping hot. The meal was lovely, home-cooked, made for a family.”

The project has been likened to a local community-led takeaway, with local people taking on chef duties to provide their neighbours with healthy fresh food and, in many cases, companionship.

The project has currently been benefitting 20 ‘socially isolated’ diners and has been described as having the potential to reach up to 100 older people in the piloted area.

As well as Reigate and Banstead, the project has been extended into the London borough of Barnet, with talks for further expansion to rural parts of Surrey and Mole Valley.

Earlier in the month it was revealed that older people in rural England often spend many years facing the isolating challenges of living in the countryside which has led to increased feelings of loneliness.

Age UK, the charity which published the findings, has reported that loneliness can be as damaging to older people’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes day.

Dominic Campbell, director at FutureGov, said: “I'm glad Age UK's report is shining a light on how lonely older people can get, especially at a time when local public services are more stretched than ever. It's rewarding to create projects like Casserole, which help local people support each other in times of need.”

It is hoped that the Casserole Club, and more projects like it, can start to address the issues facing older people in rural areas by re-connecting them with their local community and neighbours.