Devon Farm Kitchen, a social enterprise delivering frozen meals across South Devon with the aim of generating long-term income for Rowcroft Hospice, is celebrating a double win at the Devon Food Drink Awards 2024.
The awards ceremony, a highlight in the foodie calendar, took place at Sandy Park Conference Centre in Exeter earlier this month and saw some of Devon’s finest food and drink businesses come together to celebrate.
Devon Farm Kitchen, the innovative and environmentally focused social enterprise, was awarded Sustainability Pioneer and Best Online Retailer Gold. The Sustainability Pioneer Award showcases the enterprise’s dedication to quality, sustainability, and local provenance, recognising its impactful efforts, including its zero-plastics and zero-waste strategies, use of compostable packaging, and commitment to sourcing ingredients from local farming and fishing communities.
Devon Farm Kitchen’s meals are served on re-usable ceramic plates or bowls and delivered in compostable packaging.
The Best Online Retailer Award celebrates Devon Farm Kitchen’s exceptional online shopping experience, as well as its excellent customer service, efficient delivery and high quality products.
Joe Bradshaw, General Manager at Devon Farm Kitchen, attended the awards and said:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be recognised for both sustainability and online retailing. Our team works tirelessly to ensure our meals are not only delicious but also environmentally responsible, and these awards are a testament to that effort. It’s a proud moment for us and for Rowcroft Hospice, knowing that our work is helping to support both the planet and our community.”
As a local charity, Rowcroft must raise £10 million annually to continue providing its services. To support this effort, the hospice launched Devon Farm Kitchen in 2021, helping to generate long-term income to fund compassionate care for people living with life-limiting illnesses.
As hospices across the UK grapple with growing financial challenges, with some even reducing services, Rowcroft’s innovative Devon Farm Kitchen initiative is set to play an important role in supporting the future sustainability of local end-of-life care.
If you would like to enjoy sustainable, locally sourced meals delivered right to your door while supporting Rowcroft Hospice and the people they care for across South Devon, visit www.devonfarmkitchen.co.uk to learn more, or call 01803 217477 to request a brochure.
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Lead Image: Devon Farm Manager Joe Bradshaw receives Sustainability Pioneer Award trophy with Bryan Mitchell to the left and Adrian Clune to the right, pictured with team from Food Drink Devon.
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About Rowcroft Hospice
It takes time, compassion, medical expertise and money to help patients and families make the most of every day, but every year Rowcroft Hospice helps around 2,500 people living with life-limiting illnesses in South Devon to do just that.
By providing comfort, support and specialist services, the hospice enables families to share precious and joyful moments when they are needed most – whether it’s a beautiful wedding, remarkable reunion, simple thank you or gentle cuddle.
From Dartmouth to Dawlish and up onto Dartmoor, Rowcroft cares for 80% of its patients in their own homes with a team of community nurse specialists, social workers, and bereavement volunteers. The team also provides occupational therapy, physiotherapy, complementary therapy, spiritual care and music therapy, delivering a holistic approach tailored to individual needs.
Day and night, Rowcroft’s award-winning Hospice at Home team provide free specialist support to patients at home in their last few of weeks of life. The team helps to monitor and manage symptoms to enable patients to be comfortable and also offers support forloved ones, enabling carers to take much needed breaks. The service includes a dedicated telephone support line 24 hrs a day.
In Rowcroft’s 12-bedded Inpatient Unit in Torquay, the hospice’s team provides specialist care for patients whose complex needs cannot be met at home. Along with high quality health and social care, we also offer delicious homecooked meals and access to our beautiful gardens. The welcoming and homely environment helps patients and families to make the most of precious time together.
Rowcroft is an independent charity with around 75% of its funding derived from the incredible generosity of local people. The hospice team fully acknowledges the current challenging economic climate and is grateful for the local community’s continued support through these tough times; every pound raised makes a real difference.
With an increasingly ageing local population, the demand for Rowcroft’s care has never been greater. The charity currently cares for around one in three people with life-limiting illnesses across South Devon and has ambitious plans to expand its care to reach more people.
For more information, please visit www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk
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