The Edwina Lilley Charitable Trust has identified its very first project – becoming food technology partner at the brand new Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, leading the development of a ground-breaking approach to food creation, preparation and delivery.
Seven state-of-the-art kitchens
Alder Hey, the world-renowned children’s hospital, which cares for over 275,000 children, young people and their families every year, is moving to a brand new building next to its current site in Autumn 2015. Alder Hey in the Park’ will sit within parkland and the unique design means that the majority of patients will be able to enjoy park views from their bedroom windows. Along with 270 beds, 75% single rooms and 16 operating theatres, the new state of the art children’s hospital will also feature seven state-of-the-art kitchens.
The Edwina Lilley Charitable Trust will utilise its extensive experience of the restaurant industry and Fourth’s ground-breaking software to help ensure Alder Hey’s food offering is as modern and efficient as possible. Expertise in how to run a successful food operation, from 30 years’ experience in-trade, will be shared as well as the implementation of industry-leading, cloud-based technology solutions relating to dietary and allergen requirements, food waste, stock control, and recipe management.
Improving the quality of food for young patients
Derek Lilley, Edwina’s husband and co-founder of the Charitable Trust, along with his sons Sam and Max, said: “We are delighted to announce the Trust’s first project with the fantastic newAlder Hey Children’s Hospital, and are keen to help support in improving the quality of food for thousands of young patients.”
“The better the utilisation of kitchens and subsequent quality of food, means less time in hospital, and should result in less long-term cost to the NHS. Furthermore, providing an enhanced food education for children, making them aware of what a balanced diet means and how to cook food in a healthy way, should result in fewer obesity or malnourishment issues. By providing children with the option to order what they want, when they want, they can eat in own room, crucially spending more time with their family.”
State-of-the-art hospital; state-of-the-art kitchen
“We want to fully engage the hospitality world to help create a lasting tribute to Edwina and, with close family ties to Liverpool and the Wirral, we are working closely with Alder Hey to ensure that this state-of-the-art hospital receives the state-of-the-art kitchen it deserves to continue its great work.”
The Edwina Lilley Charitable Trust
The Trust was established in 2013 in memory of industry stalwart Edwina Lilley, who sadly passed away in October 2012. The Trust’s mission is to focus on supporting poorly children, child poverty, malnourishment, obesity and education within the UK.
Edwina and Derek Lilley founded Fourth – leading software supplier to the hospitality industry, in 2000 – as well as restaurant chains Est Est Est, Piccolino and the Restaurant Bar & Grill, sector-leading Restaurant Magazine, and the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” event – now a worldwide series.
Derek continued: “Part of Edwina’s legacy will be to ensure the lives of children across the UK were improved, and we will look to support other worthwhile causes, but need to ensure we can truly add value with each project.
“This is about more than simply helping with technology, where we obviously can support, but is crucially about sharing industry expertise and offering insight from our hospitality background.
“Edwina was a leader not a follower and would be delighted in supporting Alder Hey in the knowledge that their mission is to become one of the top 10 children’s hospital in the World.”
For more information on the Edwina Lilley Charitable Trust click here
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