Wonderwall: Dame Betty
Dame Betty Asafu-Adjaye is a founder member of the mission club in Harlesden, London.
The Mission Dine Club is a lunch club for the elderly, disabled and isolated in Harlesden run by Dame Betty and currently officially open two days a week, but Dame Betty is there every day providing lunch and companionship. Betty Asafu-Adjaye set up the MDC after a chance encounter with an elderly lady at her GP’s in 1985 made her realise the need for companionship for the elderly, disabled and isolated. The club started in Dame Betty's flat with just two people. In 1996 she succeeded in getting a grant of £183,000 from the National Lottery to fund a permanent base.
In 1997, Betty became a Dame in recognition of her tireless charity work. She was the first black woman to receive the honour. Harlesden is one of the most deprived areas in London - it has one of the highest unemployment rate among both young and old people in the city.
When she visited Noel's HQ this week as a studio member she was stunned when Noel paid tribute to her dedication to the Mission Dine Club. Noel suprised Dame Betty with volunteer drivers to take members to her club.
Dame Betty feels that older people are undervalued in our society and should be treated with dignity and encouraged to share their knowledge and wisdom and we at Noel's HQ whole heartedly agree.
Catch Dame Betty on the final episode of this series of Noel's HQ - This Saturday At 6pm!
