Walfinch Greater Manchester South given Cheshire and Merseyside Social Value Award

The team has been coordinating community coffee mornings, inviting not only the people they care for but involving residents from local retirement homes to provide a supportive and social environment

Walfinch Greater Manchester South, a homecare company based in Wilmslow, has been recognised for its efforts in giving back to the communities it serves. The team has been coordinating community coffee mornings, inviting not only the people they care for but involving residents from local retirement homes to provide a supportive and social environment for people to meet, reducing social isolation and loneliness.

Preeti Mehan, managing director of Walfinch Greater Manchester South explained: “We don’t want to simply operate in a community; we want to take an active part of the community. By achieving this award, we are able to demonstrate our commitment to delivering excellence to the individuals we care for, as well as our commitment to developing long-lasting professional partnerships and an ability to positively impact the communities in which we work.

“Loneliness is a big issue; we see so many people living on their own and we, therefore, began organising coffee mornings to give people the opportunity to meet new faces from across their local area, while enjoying some social interaction. It’s lovely to observe people chatting over a drink and cake, bringing people together to really feel a part of the local community.”

The Social Value Business works in partnership with the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System (ICS) to administer the Cheshire and Merseyside Social Value Award. It aims to help organisations deliver social value and achieve their corporate social responsibility (CSR), as well as setting a standard for social value and showcasing good practice in this area. It also enables organisations to become ‘Anchor Organisations’ – organisations rooted in their local communities that have the potential to bring measurable benefits to local people.

Councillor Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “Congratulations to Walfinch Greater Manchester South on achieving this award. It’s great to see local organisations being recognised for having an impact in their local communities by going beyond their basic purpose.

“We are committed to creating social value across the borough and as a council, we have the potential to have a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of local communities across Cheshire East. We will continue to support local organisations to recognise the importance of embedding social value as core practice and securing the wider benefits that it can bring.”