The COVID-19 crisis has transformed life as we know it and many people are struggling as a consequence.
Can Cook, a local social enterprise, has stepped up to the plate providing good, fresh meals to vulnerable members of our community.
Established 13 years ago, Can Cook began as a cookery school, teaching Scousers to cook from scratch.
Since then it has taught over 16,000 people to cook and donated over 200,000 freshly made meals to families in crisis across the city.
Naturally, when schools began closing, and elderly residents were told to stay indoors, the city started to mobilise, searching for ways in which theyd be able to get food out to vulnerable adults and families across Liverpool.
Can Cook passionately believes in feeding people well. To them, it is more important to maintain a healthy diet when you are struggling, than it is when you are not.
Now, as we all prepare to fend off a life-threatening illness, healthy diets are more important than ever diets that will satisfy our hunger, diets that will support our immune system.
It is this that underpins the Can Cook COVID-19 food response.
Each week Can Cook has been prepping, cooking and delivering over 4,000 fresh meals across Liverpool and Flintshire. Whether this be its innovative slow cooker bags, a freshly made spag bol, sausage and mash or one of its veggie dishes, each meal is handmade by chefs and comes with a guarantee that the ingredients are nutritionally balanced.
Working in Liverpool with the Mayors office and local charities, it is delivering a 12-week programme that will provide a total of 20,000 fresh meals in Liverpool alone.
For those who cannot leave their homes, as they are high risk or vulnerable, Can Cooks service has been their lifeline. For those who are in financial crisis as a result of COVID, Can Cooks healthy food provision takes away the worry of no food on the table.
Can Cooks approach to COVID-19 offers dignity and choice to those who most need it.
The food being delivered is food that we would all choose to eat ourselves.
More importantly, it is food that will help protect everyones wellbeing, not compromise it.
Above all it is a service predicated on the needs of those who require the food in the first place.
For more information about the work Can Cook is doing, and the current campaigns, follow @foodpoverty on Twitter, like the Facebook page @CanCookWellFed or email faith@cancook.co.uk.
Cherise, a kinship child who has experienced many of her own childhood illnesses, took inspiration from fundraiser Captain Tom Moore.
She recently took up the challenge of walking 100 laps of her garden in aid of the NHS.
In her own words she explained: As a baby I was under the cardiology department of Alder Hey because my heart kept stopping and I was later told I had holes in my heart.
Being a kinship child means that Cherise lives with her nan and siblings after their mum was unable to take care of them.
Cherise and her siblings are extremely engaged with the Liverpool kinship programme and attend many events and activities.
Cherises nan said: The support and contact we get from Kinship Carers Liverpool is second to none, I would be lost without them.
Kinship Carers Liverpool is the oldest and largest charity working with Kin Families. They support any family who are raising somebody elses child (mainly grandparents) when their biological parents are unable to do so.
They provide practical and emotional support to both the Kin Carer and the Kin Child, via group work, one-to-one sessions and training.
During Covid-19, they have continued to support virtually via WhatsApp groups aimed at particular needs i.e. education, health and wellbeing and general discussion groups which has led to great supportive networks.
They have fun quizzes, activities and themed projects e.g. potting and planting, VE Day and time capsules.
Telephone contact remains, with bespoke support packages for families depending on need.
They also do doorstep visits one day a week, delivering fresh fruit and veg plus activity resources like gardening equipment, and prizes for quiz winners.
A representative from Kinship Carers said: We as a charity are in awe of the resilience this family has shown, especially in these uncertain times.
For more information email eve@kinshipcarersliverpool.co.uk; telephone 0151 270 2108; or visit kinshipcaresliverpool.co.uk or their Facebook page facebook.com/kinshipcarelpool
The Make CIC Maker Meetup is back and bigger, and theyre taking their platform online!
Join on May 26 for the opportunity to get together with the Liverpool City regions community of makers, artists, hobbyists and business owners to showcase work, meet other makers, and discuss the maker movement happening in the city.
Anyone who is interested in listening to a makers journey is welcome! Find out more on https://www.makeliverpool.com/events-courses/
Semble is the UKs most active platform for community projects. We help local projects get the support they deserve by partnering them with brilliant businesses and volunteers to help them grow their impact.
In this section, youll find the latest news about people taking action in your local community scene and sharing
updates about developments, events and opportunities to inspire others to get involved.
Be part of the action, make change happen.
Get involved in projects like this - visit http://www.semble.org, email stories@semble.org or follow us @SembleUK
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Fresh meals to help beat the struggle - Liverpool Echo
