UK caterer Elior has announced an exciting three-year partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, which aims to raise over £100,000 for the charity. With a passion for the cause and synergies across the business, Elior will share best practice on good nutrition for dementia patients as part of the partnership. Alongside, the caterer revealed ambitious plans to build awareness across its 10,000-strong workforce with the help of Alzheimer’s Society’s successful Dementia Friends programme.
Elior UK’s healthcare division, Caterplus works with dementia patients in care homes across the UK, keeping them well-nourished with texture modified food and grazing boxes. Elior chefs, nutritionists and food service staff will be sharing this expertise with Alzheimer’s Society’s networks as part of the partnership – with the shared goal of helping more people with dementia to enjoy the benefits of a healthy diet.
To support campaigning, staff will be encouraged to take part in Alzheimer’s Society’s campaigns throughout the year, adding their voice to powerful campaigns like Cure the Care System, which campaigns for social care reform. To raise vital funds for the charity, there will also be the chance to get involved in diverse personal and company-led fundraising initiatives such as Denim for Dementia.
Elior announced the collaboration internally at the start of World Alzheimer’s Month, issuing a national call for Charity Champions to drive the cause forward across the business. Work kicks off in earnest after the month ends, when fundraising targets are set, and a calendar of fundraising opportunities communicated to staff.
Charlotte Wright, Elior Head of CSER said, “We’re delighted to announce this collaboration. It’s a powerful cause, which touches so many lives across the UK. Despite this, it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves as a challenge many people struggle with in their everyday lives. “That’s why we’re particularly excited about using the opportunity to open up a dialogue with the huge proportion of our staff members who are touched by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
“To build awareness internally, we have ambitious targets to upskill our workforce to become Dementia Friends by the end of the three years. After all, this will not only improve our services with these client groups, it will also help staff to empathise with the challenges and get fully behind the cause.
“We’ve already had a great response from staff who are keen to get involved as Charity Champions. And we’re looking forward to announcing a busy schedule of fundraising events at the end of this month.”
Siobhan Nugent, Head of Regional Engagement at Alzheimer’s Society, welcomed the announcement: “We are absolutely thrilled with our significant new three-year partnership with Elior, particularly at what is such a challenging time for people affected by dementia.
“The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for families across the UK, where there are currently around 850,000 people living with the condition. People affected by dementia need us now more than ever, but the pandemic has hit us hard financially, despite an unprecedented demand for our services.
“The money will help us reach and support more people through our vital services which have been used over 6m times since March 2020 and have been a lifeline to thousands.”
