Volunteers with the Brackley Elves community group deliver more than 100 meals over Easter holiday

The Easter Eggstravaganza organised by the Brackley Elves group was funded by Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. The scheme was supported by two local catering businesses, which included Hummingbirds Bistro Brackley who supplied the main meal and the cakes were supplied by Cakes By Yates.

The deliveries to 130 people included a Plougman's lunch, cake and an Easter card from local preschools.

The scheme worked with a number of local agencies including Caroline Cares, Brackley Saints Community Project, Livability, Happy at Home and Brackley Area Volunteer Car Service over two days (Easter Monday and Tuesday April 6) to deliver the meals to elderly, isolated and vulnerable across the town. Deliveries were coordinated by Kim Grantham (Brackley Community Saints Project).

Kathryn Bundy, with the Brackley Elves group, said: "Our motivation for doing this was, as it has always been, to brighten people's day and these tricky times and delight as many people as possible.

"The 'Easter Feast' was part of our Brackley Elves Spring schedule which has included an Easter Trail (with prizes from Midcounties Co-op), Brackley Egg Competition (with Prizes from Tesco), an Easter Bonnet Competition (in partnership with Juniper House Care Home), Bunny's Easter Basket Competition (prizes from Webster's Events Catering), Mini Egg Hunt and even a TikTok video featuring Brackley's very own Easter Bunny. Brackley's Easter Bunny also visited Brackley preschools prior to Easter as a thank you for their cards."

One of the volunteers, Kerry Fothergill, said: "I have loved to be able to help deliver the beautiful Easter feasts to some of the towns most isolated and vulnerable people.

"The pure joy to receive a special beautifully presented little hamper brings so many smiles. Some of these people have had very little contact with the outside world for well over a year.

"The things they used to look forward to or the few social things they did attend all taken away. So with the help of local companies and local volunteers it's an amazing thing to be part of.

"These people don't just struggle with Covid and all that has caused it, all the other health issues and their families being too far away. Honestly it is heartwarming to be a part of."