Restaurant group Dylan’s and social enterprise Crest Co-operative are joining forces to provide NHS frontline staff with 12,500 meals during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Dylan's are spearheading a campaign to ensure that frontline NHS staff at Ysbyty Glan Clywd and Ysbyty Gwynedd receive lunch bags and hot meals whilst on shift during the Coronavirus outbreak.

As part of the ‘Neges’ delivery scheme and in partnership Crest Co-operative, NHS staff unable to access canteen facilities whilst on shift are having free meals delivered to their ward and departments in what has become a seven-day a week operation.

Through co-ordinating the generous funding support of the Steve Morgan Foundation and Gwynt y Môr Community Fund, Crest Co-operative have ensured the partnership will be able to produce and distribute over 1,000 meals each week prepared by Dylan’s volunteer staff, and distributed with the support of Crest’s team of volunteer drivers.

David Evans, co-founder of Dylan’s, said: “Having started the deliveries at the beginning of the outbreak, we are very grateful to Crest for their support which will help us create a sustainable base for the project, ensuring the purchase of ingredients and delivery of nutritious meals to frontline NHS hospital staff can continue for many more weeks to come.”We have been delivering lunch bags and hot meals to the hospitals for three weeks, as well as food packages to vulnerable families and individuals through referrals coordinated by local authorities and foodbanks, something we will continue to do for as long as is necessary during the Coronavirus crisis.

Jay Martin, Strategic Business Development Manager for Crest Co-operative, announced: “Crest Co-operative are proud to be partnering with Dylan’s Restaurants in delivering this project to support frontline NHS staff and those in need in our community in this unprecedented time of national crisis.”

Dylan’s has also partnered with Menter Môn alongside Gwynedd and Ynys Môn Councils, who have established the ‘Neges’ delivery scheme in the two counties. This initiative involves the Dylan’s volunteer team preparing meals and boxes of food ready for distribution to the most vulnerable across the 2 counties. The ‘Neges’ operation is also supporting Dylan’s efforts to feed the NHS.

Alongside these strategic partnerships, Dylan’s are working with the national ‘Feed the NHS Wales’ campaign team who have already raised over £45,000 from public and corporate donations, and is now providing frontline NHS teams with 6,650 meals a week between 10 hospitals across Wales.

David Evans said: “We have been delivering lunch bags and hot meals to the hospitals for three weeks, as well as food packages to vulnerable families and individuals through referrals coordinated by local authorities and foodbanks, something we will continue to do for as long as is necessary during the Coronavirus crisis.

“The response from our local hospitals has been overwhelming, and we are humbled to read so many messages from NHS staff who have received meal packages during this difficult time, where necessary safety regulations have limited access to canteens and communal areas.”