Marcus Rashford challenges chef Tom Kerridge to create £10 Christmas menu for people in need
As part of his ongoing work with FareShare, Marcus Rashford has challenged two-Michelin star chef Tom Kerridge to create a special £10 menu for people in need this year.
Marcus Rashford has not been shy in the past when it comes to speaking up about his childhood in Wythenshawe, which often saw him and his mum relying on the local food bank even at Christmas time – and now it’s prompted him to create a £10 Christmas menu.
The Manchester United player, who received an MBE for his work battling food poverty in England, said that his family “relied on the local food bank for our Christmas dinner” and is making it his mission this year to ensure even those using food vouchers will be able to enjoy something special.
Enter two-Michelin star chef Tom Kerridge, who has created a special £10 menu for people in need this year – devising two healthy festive recipes that can feed six people across two days, on a sum that is relatively affordable for impoverished families.
In response, Tom has come up with two dishes: a tasty turkey roll with stuffing and traybake veggies, and a Boxing Day potato and carrot hash with fried eggs to use up any leftovers.
Tom Kerridge’s tasty turkey roll with stuffing and traybake veggies recipe can feed six people for under £10 / Image: Full Time Meals
According to FareShare, 2.3 million children went to bed hungry in the UK in November 2021 – a heartbreaking statistic that has inspired Rashford and Kerridge to ‘step up’ their Full Time Meals campaign over the Christmas period.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Christmas has a great ability to bring family together and I want as many children as possible to wake up on Christmas morning happy and without the stress of wondering where their next meal is coming from,” said Rashford to the BBC.
“I want families in communities like mine to look forward to creating something special in the kitchen together and making memories.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The chef has also created a Boxing Day potato and carrot hash with fried eggs to help use up any leftovers. Both meals can be made for a total of £10 / Image: Full Time Meals
Tom Kerridge added that Christmas ‘can be such a hard time for many families’, saying both he and Rashford wanted ‘to create something that might help bring a little bit of cheer to those who are finding it difficult’- for just £10.
“I want to see people cooking together over Christmas,” he added.
A spokesperson for FareShare told the BBC that parents in the UK were ‘being forced to choose between keeping their children warm or putting food on the table’ this year.
“Christmas is meant to be a time of warmth, good food, and laughter, [but] for families facing food poverty this winter, the reality couldn’t be more different”.
Rashford and Kerridge have been working together since April 2021 on the Full Time Meals campaign and have so far created 52 delicious family recipes as part of its 12-month long programme.
All simple and easy to follow, with an emphasis on limited equipment and inclusion of store cupboard goods with a longer shelf life, each recipe features a QR code linking through to the Full Time Instagram page where users can access short-form tutorial videos hosted by Tom, Marcus and a selection of celebrity guests and families.
Feature image – Full Time Meals
News
A Christmas train in Wigan has been delivering donated toys galore
Thomas Melia
Yuletide wishes have come true as a donation of toys and goodies have been delivered via a Christmas train in Wigan, right in time for the big day.
The Amazon toy train, which is a new initiative running this festive season, is dropping off presents from now right up until Christmas day itself.
Already visiting Wigan earlier this month, the locomotive has its sites set on three more stops including London, Swansea and Scotland as it makes its journey across three nations.
In partnership with Multibank’s Brick-by-Brick project, the train hopes to provide and offer gifts to families in need across the UK with Wigan marking the closest stop off in Greater Manchester.
Credit: Lee Boswell (supplied)
All the toys that are being transported across the country in this Amazon-fronted train are featured on the company’s ‘Top Ten Toys 2024’ list.
Hatchimals, Screamerz and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza were some of the exciting gifts found on the Christmas train in Wigan at the start of this month.
This lighthearted and fun-filled Christmas-themed project is kitted out with toys from top brands like Play-Doh and the brickmasters themselves, LEGO Star Wars.
So far, Multibank has helped over 400,000 families and provided three million essential items across their operations in England, Scotland and Wales since launching in 2022.
This collaborative local project doesn’t just operate at Christmastime either: Brick-to-Brick Multibank run all year round collecting surplus business requirements like furniture, hot water bottles and hygiene products to be used by those less fortunate.
The Christmas train in Wigan filled with Amazon’s top toys.The Wigan toy train features some well known brands.Credit: Supplied
This roster of children’s favourite companions and interactive games is inspired by the consumers themselves. Every toy is related to or the exact match of what Amazon customers have been searching for the most. A real Christmas list come true.
The list of the top toys isn’t extortionate either, offering customers some affordable and still as fascinating options with prices starting from £9.99.
Even old-school classics like Play-Doh have a spot on this wish list. This poses the really big question: where’s the adult version?
You may have finished your Christmas shopping not too long ago or might still be looking for inspiration, browse the top-ranked teddies and more HERE.
Floral tributes laid for Baby A after remains found in Salford, as police hunt ‘answers’
Daisy Jackson
Floral tributes have begun to pile up outside the Salford park where the remains of a baby were found earlier this week.
The child, who is being called Baby A, was discovered near Ashtons Field on Wednesday 20 November.
Their identity is not yet known, and police are trying to determine ‘who this baby could be, how long they have been here, and how they have sadly died’.
In an update shared last night, GMP said their investigation was continuing and the force will do ‘everything we can to get answers’.
They also shared images of cuddly toys, flowers and letters that have been left at the snowy scene by officers and by the local community.
In the latest update, GMP said: “Our investigation continues after the remains of a young baby were tragically found in Little Hulton yesterday.
“The thoughts of everyone at Greater Manchester Police are with Baby A, and we will do everything we can to get answers.
“We would like to thank the community for their tributes to Baby A and their support and compassion at this time. We are truly grateful.”
Floral tributes laid for Baby A after remains found in Salford. Credit: GMP
GMP are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward so they can ‘find answers for this baby’.
Chief Superintendent Neil Blackwood said: “Even the most minor detail could be crucial to our investigation. If you have seen anyone in the area over the last few days, or know who the parents could be, please call us as soon as you can.
“As soon as we are in a position to confirm further details about the circumstances, we will do so.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log 1319 of 20/11/24. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Georgina Pellant -
13th December 2021 
