Asda is bringing back its popular cafe ‘winter warmer’ £1 meal deal to support the over 60’s during the colder months.
As the rising cost of living crisis sadly continues to make its impact felt nationwide, with those over 60 found to be some of the hardest-hit when it comes to financial pressures, Asda has decided to relaunch one of its most successful and widely-praised cafe meal deals this year to support those who need it most as the temperatures drop.
The supermarket is, once again, offering all over 60s the chance to enjoy soup, a bread roll, and unlimited tea and coffees for just £1 in any of its 205 cafes across the UK.
The offer is now running all day and every day, right through until February 2024.
The retailer first launched its ‘winter warmers’ initiative back in November 2022 in a bid to support older customers who it said were “disproportionately affected by the spiralling living costs”, and after research found that those aged between 65 and 74 experienced a £163 year-on-year drop in disposable income in August 2022.
Image: Asda
The initiative was so popular it saw more than 650,000 £1 meal deals served throughout the two months it was running for, which is why the supermarket has decided to extend the offer for an additional two months this time around.
“We know winter is set to be incredibly hard for thousands of pensioners as they continue to worry about how to keep themselves warm in the face of rising living costs and on a fixed income,” explained Kris Comerford – who is Asda’s Chief Commercial Officer.
“Last year, we served over 650,000 meals to the over 60’s in two months.
“So by bringing the initiative back for 2023 and extending it until February, we hope it will prove just as impactful across the winter months for those who need it most.”
Image: Asda
In addition to the Winter Warmers initiative, Asda’s Kids Eat for £1 meal deal is also running at cafes nationwide, and continues to be popular with families – having now served over 2.6 million meals since it’s launch back in June 2022.
On top of both of these initiatives, selected Asda store cafes are also running a ‘Community Cuppa’ campaign by creating space for community groups who may otherwise struggle to meet up due to rental costs or high energy costs.
Spaces at these community groups are available on weekdays in November and December from 2pm to 6pm, and everyone who attends will also get unlimited free tea or coffee.
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Channel 4 is looking for adult virgins with ‘intimacy issues’ for next series of hit reality show
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before.
First hitting screens back in 2024 and having run for two successful seasons now, Virgin Island follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
You can find out more and register your interest here.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd November 2023 
