A new Community Fridge pilot has just opened in Oldham this week, and it’s aiming to help “fight food insecurity”.
As the rising cost of living crisis sadly continues to make its impact felt across Greater Manchester and nationwide, Community Fridges are spaces that bring people together to eat, connect, and learn new skills, all while reducing food waste.
Announced by the leader of Oldham Council, Amanda Chadderton, and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, the new Oldham project has opened at Greenacres Community Centre to give local people the chance to share food.
This includes surplus from supermarkets, local food businesses, producers, households, and gardens.
The project will be run by community groups from across the borough.
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As well as tackling food insecurity, Oldham Council says one of the other main purposes of the project is “saving fresh food from going to waste”.
The new Oldham Community Fridge follows on from the success of the ‘In Our Nature’ programme – a partnership between the Co-op, Hubbub, Manchester City Council, and several other local environmental organisations.
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“Our recent Greater Manchester Residents Survey found that eight in 10 people say their cost of living has increased over the past month and around 70,000 more households are experiencing food insecurity compared to last spring,” Andy Burnham said.
“People are clearly struggling and that’s why projects such as Community Fridges are so vital in providing a safety net for those who need it.
“This community-led approach can help residents access healthy, nutritious and culturally appropriate food in a dignified way whilst also helping the environment.
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“I hope this pilot is a success and I look forward to seeing it rolled out across Greater Manchester.”
/ Credit: Oldham Council
Oldham Council Leader, Amanda Chadderton, said the region needs to “urgently address the issue of food waste and food insecurity” as costs continue to soar.
“That’s why I’m so pleased to see this scheme taking place as I know it will make a real difference to families and those who are struggling,” she added, “one step at a time, ideas like this will help us work toward our goal of ending food insecurity and the inequalities it brings.”
Featured Image – Oldham Council
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Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets this Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks season.
Bonfire Night may be loved by us humans for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that come along with it… but sadly, the November holiday isn’t quite so fun for our four-legged friends.
Loud bangs, flashing lights, and unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives are just some of the reasons why fireworks are frightening to pets.
Not only that, but with multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays across this time of year, pets are rarely able to pinpoint when and where the booming explosions are coming from, therefore creating even more anxiety around this time of year.
Classic FM will play calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks / Credit: DESIGNECOLOGIST (via Unsplash)
Which is why, for the ninth year running now, Classic FM is once again teaming up with the RSPCA for two Pet Classics programmes packed with ‘the most soothing and comforting classical music’.
The music has been handpicked to help calm and settle any anxious pets.
A survey by the RSPCA revealed that almost two-thirds (63%) of animal owners reported their pet was distressed during fireworks season, and that playing relaxing music was the most common way (36%) to help calm or prepare their animal.
Presenters Dan Walker, Aled Jones, and Dawn O’Porter will each host a night of the specially created programme to help keep the nation’s pets calm through the whizzes and bangs.
Dan will present the first programme on Bonfire Night itself (Thursday 5 November), and then as celebrations continue throughout the weekend, Aled will be on hand to bring some peace to Friday 6 November, and Dawn picks up the baton on Saturday 7 November.
All three Pet Classics programmes will be broadcast from 5pm to 10pm, and you can listen on Classic FM or Global Player available across the UK.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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What is the UK’s national dish? New survey reveals Brits’ pick in landslide victory
Emily Sergeant
If you’ve ever thought to Google the question ‘what is Britain’s national dish?’, then you probably came away thinking it’s chicken tikka masala.
But is that actually the truth? A new survey has disproved the claim, massively.
There’s no denying that chicken tikka masala – an Indian curry that’s actually widely thought to have been created in Britain – is a popular dish that’s loved by many, but despite what many headlines have claimed over the years, a new YouGov survey has revealed it’s not what Brits consider to be the country’s ‘national dish’.
YouGov conducted two online surveys earlier this month, made up of 2,079 and 2,104 adults aged 18+ living in Great Britain.
And, in their own words, Brits chose fish and chips as the country’s national dish, making it the ‘resounding’ winner with 49% of the vote.
What is the UK’s national dish? A new survey has revealed Brits’ pick in a landslide victory / Credit: The Manc Group
With nearly half of the overall vote, this puts fish and chips far ahead of the roast dinner in second place, which only 24% of people picked – including the 6% who made sure to specify a beef roast.
In fact, only 3% of Brits actually name chicken tikka masala as the UK’s national dish, although 52% in the survey did confess that they eat some form of curry at least once a month, so it is still a popular pick regardless.
Fish and chips is by far the most common answer across all generations too, according to the survey (45-50%), with the biggest difference between age groups being that 18-24 year olds are less likely to have nominated roast dinner and more likely to have chosen chicken tikka masala instead.
What do Brits say is the UK’s national dish?
Fish and chips – 49%
Roast dinner – 24%
Chicken tikka masala – 3%
Curry (non-specific) – 2%
Full English breakfast – 2%
Bangers and mash – 1%
Cottage or shepherd’s pie – 1%
Other – 3%
Don’t know – 15%
The survey also showed that, of the three top contenders for the UK’s national dish, roast dinners are the most frequently eaten, as 52% of people said they eat them on a monthly basis – including 16% who do so every week.
Aside from the frequently mentioned dishes, some survey respondents also gave shoutouts to the full English breakfast (2%), bangers and mash (1%), and cottage or shepherd’s pie (1%).
Emily Sergeant -
2nd March 2023 
