NRS Healthcare’s Social Value Lead was delighted to attend an event in London celebrating diversity in ageing as part of Black History Month.

Rita Eluwade said the Cultural Heritage Festival hosted by Pennu Charity at the Mayor’s Parlour in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham on Monday 30th October, was a fantastic opportunity to meet with harder to reach communities.

Rita, who joined NRS Healthcare earlier this year, said:

“I was delighted to be invited to this event to talk about who we are and what we do. It was a wonderful day having the opportunity to spend time with the elderly and a charity which provides such joy and support to people in their older age.”

NRS Healthcare took over the running of the Community Equipment Service, the largest of its kind in the UK, in April, on behalf of the London Community Equipment Consortium.

It operates from three depots across the capital, supporting people from 21 boroughs to live independently.

As Social Value Lead for NRS in London, Rita’s role is to ensure a strong social value performance driven across London and to ensure NRS delivers additional social, economic and environmental value to those local communities.

She was delighted to give a talk to both senior citizens and dignitaries including The Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Madam Mayor Donna Lumsden, councils and community leaders, and Pennu charity founder Dr Sade Bright. Pennu was established in 2016 and aims to promote good health and wellbeing of the elderly. Rita said:

“I engaged with many of the elderly who attended, and they told me lots about themselves as retired teachers, nurses, shop assistants, divers and homemakers. They said they always attend events run by Pennu, which offers them warm food, people to talk to and listen to them, and a place to get information. Many of them had not heard of NRS Healthcare before and I feel absolutely elated that I was able to reach more people and look forward to many more events such as this across London."

One attendee said:

“Thank you for the awareness you created Rita through your presentation and attendance.”