In Barnet so far there are 357 cooks and 47 diners signed up with the Casserole Club. There are currently 24 cooks and diners who are currently matched up and sharing.

The Casserole Club is a project that matches up people who like cooking and are happy to share an extra portion of a delicious home cooked meal with older neighbours in the community who could benefit from a hot meal – and the company.

The Casserole Club here in Barnet have a large number of diners in the Hendon area and not enough cooks. So although the project welcomes people from across Barnet to sign up to the Casserole Club, they would particularly like to encourage any residents who enjoy cooking to sign up and deliver a meal to an older person in the Hendon community who would really benefit from it.

Barnet Group’s Interim Chief Executive, Troy Henshall, says: “The Barnet Group continues to be delighted with our involvement in Casserole Club.  Its basis may only be sharing a meal, but the benefits and happiness it brings to both cooks and diners across the borough are significant.  The positive impact it has on social isolation cannot be underestimated and our efforts continue to be focused on growing the service and positively impacting many more lives.”

Angela, who volunteers as a cook, is married and has 5 children, so she’s always cooking a lot. The Barnet mum makes big portions for Diane (also based in Barnet), a signed-up diner, which means that Diane can eat half and save another portion of delicious home-cooked food for another day.

Providing a meal for someone gives both parties the opportunity to make a friend and enjoy good company, says Angela.  “It’s a lovely thing, you make a friend, you know they’re eating a good meal and you don’t have to throw good food away. “I’d like a lot more people to get involved in Casserole Club. It’s so simple.”

Diner Diane adds: “It’s good to know someone is coming round on a Wednesday night. Angela sometimes brings her kids and they get to play with my dog Bibi.”

Cooks are required to sign up on the site and undertake a short safeguarding process before they can search and contact local diners. The Casserole team works with local organisations to help reach diners and take direct referrals including from friends and relatives either through their contact number 020 3475 3444 or to:hello@casseroleclub.com