Barking and Dagenham Council have launched a community-led cookbook in a bid to support residents to cook tasty and nourishing low-cost, low energy meals from scratch.

A recent council cost of living survey showed that 1 in 2 residents said they either skip or have fewer meals because they can’t afford it. Food also ranked number one as a top pain point for residents, followed by gas and electricity bills, and rent or mortgage costs. The survey also showed that 1 in 3 residents were unable to cope with the cost of living increase.

The council has continued to work with community partners to bring together a range of cost of living support, including help with money, food, energy, wellbeing and more, both online and face to face at local community hubs.

As part of the food support offer, residents have been enjoying a range of cooking clubs led by partners across the borough, with support from the council. The cooking clubs offer a space for anyone to come along, to learn, and to share their own recipes, tips, skills and food stories.

The community cookbook brings together a diverse and delicious selection of recipes reflecting the borough’s different communities, brought forward by the community during sessions at the cooking clubs. Residents will have the opportunity to bring new ideas to their kitchen, while culinary newbies can have a go at cooking for themselves or their families, guided by the useful swaps, tips and tricks paired with each recipe.

To complement the cookbook, a suite of cooking demonstration videos filmed with the community are also available.

Councillor Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, said: “Everyone should have the confidence to cook a wholesome meal from scratch at low cost. The Community Cookbook is a way to empower people to cook and share and enjoy delicious food from the comfort of their homes.

“So, whether you’re a beginner when it comes to cooking, or more experienced – this cookbook is for everyone.

“I was delighted to contribute a recipe and we are grateful to those who have shared their wonderful recipes with us. I hope that this book helps to preserve them, as well as celebrate the rich culinary heritage, knowledge and skills within our community.”

The project is part of a broader food sector programme to support the relocation of the capital’s historic food wholesale markets to Dagenham Dock from 2027. The borough is working with the City of London Corporation and other partners to deliver community benefits now, including:

• Improving food education and catering in local schools
• Enabling access to good jobs and careers in food through a new borough food school
• Supporting a better local food offer through new business support and space for local food enterprises and entrepreneurs
• Launching a cross-sector Food Partnership and developing a Good Food Action Plan to improve access to affordable, sustainable, culturally-diverse and nourishing food.

Residents can pick up a copy of ‘Come Cook With Us’ at local cooking clubs, or borrow a copy from their local library. For more information and to view the cookbook online, visit www.lbbd.gov.uk/cook-with-us.