Started: July 2011
Based: Barnet, Hertfordshire
Website: www.casseroleclub.com
Twitter: @Casserole_Club
Categories: Health, Community Action

Casserole Club is a social enterprise that connects those who love to cook with those that can’t cook with the aim of tackling loneliness and malnutrition.

Casserole Club was set up in July 2011 and helps people share extra portions of home-cooked food with others in their area who might not be able to cook for themselves. Members of the club serve up meals to their neighbours while strengthening local neighbourhood relationships.

The venture is organised through a website that allows neighbours to sign up as cooks and search for dinners in their area. The business was set up by FutureGov, a company that aims to improve public services through digital products.

80 per cent of diners are over the age of 80 so the enterprise hopes to connect people who might be isolated in their community and at the same time save money for local councils.

On average it costs a council £4.90 to provide a meal. If 100 diners get on average two meals a week from a neighbour, Casserole Club will have saved councils at least £50,960 a year.

Following a successful pilot in Reigate and Banstead in Surrey, Casserole Club is expanding to offer its services in Tower Hamlets, Barnet and Staffordshire.

It now has more than 4,000 volunteer cooks nationwide with over 250 meal shares taking place in the Barnet area.