Fire service teams up with council to provide slow cookers and recipes to those in need

We have joined forces with a local authority to help provide slow cookers and affordable recipes to vulnerable families in Newcastle-under-Lyme this winter.

It is all part of Staffordshire County Council’s ‘Here to help’ campaign aimed at providing information, advice and support on managing ongoing cost of living pressures and our ‘Be warm. Be safe’ campaign, which encourages people to avoid making cuts when it comes to fire safety this winter.

The authority has distributed the slow cookers to eligible families who really need one, while we have produced a series of recipe cards to help vulnerable and low-income families in Newcastle.

The aim is to help people make the most out of the food they have and help to ensure they can access a warm and nourishing meal regularly.

The recipes have been devised by the fire service’s catering supervisor, Stephen Pickerin, and include recipes for beef stew and dumplings, chicken curry, chilli con carne and vegetable tagine.

Carmel Warren, Partnership and Intervention Manager at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We hope the recipes we’ve provided will help families with their budgeting this winter.

“The recipes we have put together are affordable, easy-to-make and nourishing to help keep people warm. The initiative is part of our ‘Be warm. Be safe campaign’ which is about encouraging people to keep warm safely this winter.”

County Councillor Mark Sutton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “With the cost of living rising, we know that many people will struggle especially during the winter months.

“Getting support early can make a big difference and our ‘Here to help’ campaign will help people find information and advice to help them manage those cost of living pressures.”

For more information about the council’s Here to Help campaign, visit their website: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/heretohelp.