Bridgwater community group making 200 Christmas 'cwtch' meals

The group has already started to prepare the Christmas meals

A community group is hoping to provide 200 Christmas 'cwtch' meals for those in need.

The 'cwtch' - a Welsh term meaning cuddle or hug - meals are being prepared by volunteers of the group Community Help Bridgwater.

The idea was that of Lesley Gates, who said: "They'll be able to open the freezer and get out a lovely hug."

The frozen Christmas meals will be given to anyone who is alone at Christmas.

Community Help Bridgwater started during the first Covid-19 lockdown to help people living in the Somerset town through the pandemic, but it kept going as the group continued to see a need.

Ms Gates said: "My daft idea is called a 'Cwtch in a Bag' and the idea is to provide a three-course dinner for someone who is on their own and just needs to open the freezer and get out a lovely hug from someone on Christmas."

Helping Ms Gates is Kate Gardner, who owns the Purplespoon Cafe in Bridgwater, and Lisa Webster, who owns the King Alfred Inn in Taunton.

Ms Webster has offered to cook the first course for the meals - a soup - and Ms Gardner is holding a group cooking session the last November.

Ms Gates said: "It's something we can all jump on, we've all got neighbours, we've all got friends and we'd love for people to take this idea up."

Lesley Gates and Tracey Lowther have been fundraising for the campaign

Ms Gates said they are aiming to get all the meals done by the end of November.

"Initially we were looking at 20 meals, but then it jumped up to 50 and now we're thinking about doing 200," she said.

"We have got to get kicked off early, and we need volunteers to help deliver the meals as well as fundraising money [to make it happen ahead of the big day]."

Tracey Lowther is a volunteer for Community Help Bridgwater and also works at Morrisons in Bridgwater as a food waste champion.

She said they are helping in store to raise funds for the group through people buying a bauble, a £1 donation which will go towards the meals.

"You know it's all going to be freshly cooked, it's going to be decent meat," she added.

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