'Incredible' woman helps cook meals for shelters

With the help of friends and volunteers, Caz Goddard has cooked and delivered hundreds of Christmas dinners across North Somerset

A woman who has helped prepare hundreds of dinners for vulnerable people says she wants to "give something back" this Christmas.

Caz Goddard from Portishead and a team of volunteers have spent four days cooking 250 Christmas meals and puddings from her kitchen, which they have delivered to 15 shelters across North Somerset.

Inspired by her late father, who did lots of charity work, Ms Goddard has been called "incredible" by friends who have helped her out.

"I think it was embedded in me from a very young age that giving back at Christmas is a lot better than taking," she told the BBC.

Roast turkey, homemade Yorkshire puddings, cauliflower cheese and lots of veg have been served

Around 15 people have been helping Ms Goddard, who runs her own Caribbean catering company called 'Caz's Bay' supplying food at pop-up festivals.

For the past four years, Ms Goddard has volunteered to cook meals for Elim Housing Association, which provides supported accommodation in North Somerset, Bristol and Gloucester.

"These are people who could be in a refuge, it could be mums and babies, young lads or people who have come off the street," she said.

Andy Herbert, team leader of Elim Housing Association, said: "For some this will be their only Christmas meal of the year.

"For many, this is their family. Some of them are estranged from their family, some are refugees from different parts of the world."

Volunteers have been helping Ms Goddard plate up the Christmas meals and then deliver them

The idea to cook and deliver the Christmas meals started during the pandemic and has grown into a "huge operation."

Turkey crowns, Christmas puddings and vegetables have been donated, as well as gift bags full of presents.

"It started with people being vulnerable at Christmas on their own, now it's turned into a project," Ms Goddard said.

She said she was inspired to "give back" over Christmas after her dad passed away when she was young.

"He did a lot for things in Portishead, he was very much about giving back at Christmas," she added.

"It's sad not to have him here and he would have loved this kind of thing.

"It's just doing something that he would do."

'Unbelievable'

"I know how hard she works, for her to do all of this is unbelievable," said friend Maz Craig.

"I think it's just a brilliant thing what's being done and they get a meal at Christmas, which is I think what everybody should be having.

"I'm so grateful that she is doing something like this and I'm able to be part of it as well."