A SOCIAL enterprise that helps the elderly has officially opened its new premises in Quarry Bank.

Husband and wife team Sarah and David Andrews who run Gourmet Meal Care, a home delivery meal service for the elderly, have transformed an old building in the High Street to make it their new hub.

The building, last used as a hair salon, has been vacant for about five years.

Sarah and David have spent the last three months renovating it after taking on the building – having spent 15 years running their venture from rented premises in Dudley Road, Brierley Hill.

Sarah, owner of Gourmet Meal Care, said: “We are overwhelmingly proud to have purchased our own building which protects us from rental increases.”

The building has been named ‘Porter House’ in memory of Sarah’s late grandmother who Sarah started the business for in 2009.

The idea for the venture came when Sarah noticed her grandmother losing weight. She began taking her a hot cooked dinner each day and realised the benefits this brought so she set about trying to build a venture that could others too.

Fifteen years on Gourmet Meal Care delivers a hot cooked dinner to 100 people a day and the venture has helped thousands of local elderly residents to eat well. The service also acts as a daily welfare check on vulnerable people.

The new premises were officially opened on Monday November 4, with Deputy Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Pete Lee, Deputy Mayoress Gloria Lee and Chairman of Quarry Bank Community Centre John Lines stopping by to visit.

Cllr Lee said: “It is a fantastic initiative and Sarah and David clearly have great business minds; they have protected their business and their loyalty to those that they serve is evident and I wish them great success.”

Sarah also now plans to open a lunch club at Quarry Bank Community Centre every Tuesday from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, offering a two-course meal and entertainment.

She said: “The lunch club is something we have always wanted to do as we see a lot of loneliness when we visit the elderly in their own homes.”

John Lines, chairman of Quarry Bank Community Centre, said: “We are so pleased to be joining forces with Sarah to offer local elderly residents a warm and friendly space to meet and have a chat over a wholesome meal.”

Gourmet Meal Care, which has been shortlisted for a ‘best customer service’ award at the Dudley Community Awards 2024.