BBC Apprentice Star backs Pump Aid’s Giving the Gift of Water this Christmas

For communities in Malawi, which is a small landlocked country known as the warm heart of Africa, accessing safe water is a daily struggle. Many water pumps are broken because of a lack of spare parts and expertise to repair them. Women and girls walk up to 6km to collect water, losing time and opportunities for school or work.

At this time of year some of us reflect on things for which we are grateful. Having clean water on tap is a luxury that millions across the world simply lack.

Joanna Jarjue, Ambassador at Pump Aid and BBC Apprentice Finalist, “I strongly believe no person, regardless of their location or circumstances they were born in should endure such hardship whereby some of the things we take for granted in more developed countries are scarce; especially something as crucial to everyday life and health such as water.” 

Pump Aid trains and supports local people in rural communities in Malawi to become Pump Mechanics. And Pump Mechanics keep water flowing by repairing and maintaining pumps in local communities, promoting sustainability and self-sufficiency, as well as creating jobs.

Pump Aid are taking part in the Big Give’s 2022 Christmas Challenge to raise £61,000 in just one week! These funds will be used for to train and support Pump Mechanics to fix broken pumps to improve water access to more than 25,000 people.

If you would like to support Pump Aid’s vital work in Malawi, you can donate to their Big Give campaign from 29th November until 6th December. Visit www.pumpaid.org for more information as to how you can make a real difference this Christmas.

Tesco, FareShare and the Trussell Trust open doors to The Give Back Express, as need for food banks and charities soars

In the run-up to Christmas, Tesco and its charity partners are launching The Give Back Express its first ever ‘reverse supermarket’ to drive donations as FareShare and the Trussell Trust reveal they expect to provide food support to more than 1.2 million people this winter.

The Give Back Express pop-up encourages customers to purchase the products most needed by the charities, but leave with nothing as everything bought will be donated.

And Tesco will match the value of all goods purchased at the pop-up.

Marking the 10th anniversary of the retailer’s partnership with FareShare and the Trussell Trust, the pop-up store launches ahead of the Tesco Food Collection, which once again encourages customers to donate products in their local store, with the retailer topping up the value of these by 20%.

As FareShare and the Trussell Trust report they expect to provide food support to more than 1.2 million people this winter, Tesco and its charity partners have launched The Give Back Express - their first ever ‘reverse supermarket’ to help spread Christmas joy and boost donations.

Visitors are invited to buy and donate the 25 most needed items as identified by Tesco and both charities – including tinned food, tea and toiletries – at The Give Back Express pop-up store. Customers simply pay for the products they have chosen, with the value of all purchases donated to the charities on their behalf by the supermarket. Passers-by can also scan a QR code located outside the store to make a monetary donation through their Clubcard vouchers, or online via https://secure.tesco.com/clubcard/donate-to-charity. Tesco will match the value of all goods purchased at the store.

Located on London’s Poland Street, The Give Back Express is open from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th November - one of the busiest shopping weekends before Christmas, -and all money raised will help support communities right across the UK.

FareShare forecasts it will redistribute over 13,000 tonnes of food to people this winter, while the Trussell Trust reported that 320,000 people used a food bank for the first time between April to September this year, with the need continuing to rise.

Tesco is also encouraging customers to get involved in its annual Food Collection - launching in Express stores from Monday 28th November to Saturday 3rd December, and in all Tesco stores nationwide from Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd December. Customers can donate items in their local store, via a charity donation at the checkout, or by purchasing a pre-packaged donation bag full of essentials. As in previous years, Tesco will once again top up the value of donations made in stores as part of the Food Collection, by a further 20% in cash.

During the festive season, giving back is particularly front of mind for many. The annual Tesco Christmas Report revealed an anticipated rise in charitable giving and requests for donations in place of gifts, with over half (52%) the nation planning to carry out some form of charitable act this Christmas5.

Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO said: “This winter will be increasingly challenging for many people who are facing food uncertainty. And food banks and frontline charities need our help more than ever before. We have been working with FareShare and the Trussell Trust for 10 years and during this time, our generous customers have helped donate over 100 million meals to communities across the UK, with Tesco topping up donations by 20%. 

"Whether it’s at the Give Back Express; in your local store through our annual Food Collection; or via your Clubcard points online, even the smallest donation can make a real difference and help to spread a little more Christmas joy this year.”

Lindsay Boswell, FareShare CEO said: “The cost of living crisis is driving millions of people into food insecurity. At a time when food prices and energy bills are rising, the demand for food from FareShare has skyrocketed with 75%6 of our charities telling us they need access to more food. What we are also hearing from the charities we support is that this situation will only worsen, and they are worried they may not be able to meet the extra demand this winter.

“As we prepare for a challenging winter, The Give Back Express will help us to raise awareness around the work we are doing across the UK to provide food to people facing economic hardship and enable us to show shoppers how they can support us with vital donations via our partner Tesco.”

Emma Revie, CEO at Trussell Trust said: “We are extremely grateful to Tesco for the invaluable support that they have provided to food banks across the UK over the last decade. Tesco and its customers are the biggest single source of food donations for the Trussell Trust’s network of food banks, but our partnership has also offered far more than just food. 

"In addition to millions of pounds worth of generous donations, Tesco’s 10 years of support has helped food banks to recruit volunteers, attract new supporters and make their communities aware of the support they provide. Now, at a time when food banks are facing a tsunami of need created by the soaring cost of living, we would like to share a heartfelt thanks to Tesco for their ongoing commitment to helping the Trussell Trust provide people with access to essential items, while we work to create a future where everyone is free from hunger – for good."

LOCATION AND OPENING HOURS:

• Friday 25th November – 12pm – 8pm

• Saturday 26th November – 10am – 8pm

• Sunday 27th November – 10am - 8pm

Location: 12 Poland Street, London, W1F 8QA

Nearest tube stations: Oxford Circus (5 min walk) and Tottenham Court Road (8 min walk).

Retro-vibe Christmas Gifts for Eco-conscious People Who Love Colour

Neonimo have great eco-conscious Christmas gift ideas for colourful people with a retro-lean, that also like reusables and multi-purpose products that give them maximum use!

Retro-vibe Eco Gift Ideas

Reusable Coffee Cups (12 designs)

– Thermal Travel Mugs are the perfect eco-conscious option for busy days

– Helps reduce 2.5bn disposable cups thrown away each and every year

– 450ml capacity

Slip cases for pens, phones or glasses  (12 designs)

– Multi-use slip cases with snap shut top perfect for phone, glasses, pens etc.

– Long-lasting, durable and tactile super-thick neoprene slip pouch

– Vibrant designs are printed, cut and sewn – the handmade quality is excellent and the colours just pop!

Sketch/Notebooks  (12 designs)

– A5 size journal with 80 ivory paper pages

– Beautifully hand-bound with fabric covered hardback

– Blank pages to use as a notebook, sketchbook or journal

Zipper Pouches (36 designs)

– Made from durable and deliciously tactile stretchy, spongy, thick neoprene fabric

– Printed with eco-friendly inks giving fade-resistant print 

– Great to use as a makeup pouch or pencil case 

– Size: 20cm x 12.5cm

More Sustainability-Conscious Gift Ideas!

Neonimo put together a handy Ultimate gift inspiration guide, for readers to find the perfect planet-conscious present for all the special people in their lives! 

This easy gift inspiration guide works on a Q&A basis to find a great gift for anyone – the blog post is a simple way to decide which present to buy based on someone's interest and lifestyle https://neonimo.co.uk/blogs/news/the-ultimate-gift-inspiration-guide-from-neonimo.

Play-Trays launches new range of Building Bricks Play Trays - designed for children, with parents in mind too!

This is a fantastically, clever space-saving design that encourages imaginative play but is very easy to carry and stash away in seconds.

For nurturing and inspiring big imaginations, the Building Bricks Play Tray has been carefully designed to encourage creative play and learning, centred around it’s building brick base plate that is embedded into a slim, lightweight tray perfect for sliding under sofas, storing upright against a wall or even for travel. So it's ideal for Christmas presents.

Play-Trays have created a useful design that allows children to construct lots of new creations with a secure surface that’s compatible with the all major building brick brands. A great addition to children’s building block collections and a must-have when looking for a solution to messy play.

Drawing inspiration from retro, brightly coloured games consoles, each Building Brick Tray is designed and handcrafted in Cornwall, and is made from an innovative wood-fibre material called Valchramat, it's non-toxic, strong and also very durable.

Available in two sizes and four colours, making it an ideal Christmas gift or birthday present for children 4yrs and over.

About Play-Trays

Founder and Designer, James, believes children's items should be fun and useful for all the family – sparking joy in children and helpful for parents too. With form and function at the core of his design ethos, he uses only quality materials to ensure they are also built to last, creating designs that will be passed down the family for future generations to enjoy. They’re made for keeps!

Handmade in the UK - Care and attention is put into every Play-Tray with quality control a top priority. 

Safe and Sound – All trays are tested by an independent laboratory and approved as a toy for 4+ years. 

What's more, Play-Trays’ packaging is environmentally friendly, plastic free and 100% recyclable.

https://play-trays.co.uk.

Eco-Friendly Stocking Filler Ideas From Kempii

Looking out for eco-friendly Christmas stocking fillers so you can give your family all the excitement of a stocking full of gifts without the landfill waste? The Kempii is the place for you!

Whether your gift is for an eco-conscious wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, friend, close work colleague or any other loved one, Kempii has you covered with these greener, sustainable stocking filler ideas. 

Even better, they're are all £15 or less, so they can also easily work as a Secret Santa gift for that tricky-to-buy for colleague.

1: Dog Shampoo Bar - £10.00

New to Kempii, this dog shampoo bar is a perfect gift for friends and family who became paw parents over lockdown, and are trying to be eco-friendly pet owners. Of course, you can also get one for your own fur-baby! Easier to use than liquid shampoo (no more juggling a bottle while grappling with a wriggling dog!), whilst being great for your dog and the planet. 

2: Enamel Soap Dish - £15.00

This vintage-style enamel soap dish is one of their best-sellers. It looks superb near your wash basin and is well designed with a removable plate which allows for draining so your soap doesn't get soggy. A perfect eco stocking filler for anyone who's made the switch to shampoo bars and soap in their zero waste journey.

3: Wooden Soap Dish - £14.00

This wooden soap dish, has a more natural look, will also make a great eco stocking filler for anyone trying to reduce waste in their bathroom. It's made by a social enterprise that collects wood waste destined for landfill, and turns it into useful products and furniture. Now that’s reducing waste!

4: Reusable Body Sponge - £8.00

Winter is the perfect time for those long and luxurious baths, but those plastic mesh shower poufs are a disaster for the environment. You can get the same rich lather and gentle exfoliation from these 100% reusable cotton body sponges. Even the handy strap is made with cotton, so when it comes to the end of its life in a few months, it can be composted

5: Reusable Face Rounds - £10.95

Everyone who uses these swears by them, so use this Christmas as an excuse to convert some more people! They’re eco stocking fillers that are certain to please, especially as they mean not having to buy endless disposable cotton wool pads and fiddly wet-wipes. If you're looking for an eco stocking filler for her, this might be it!

6: Bamboo Toothbrush Case - £7.95

Now that we can finally go abroad again, travel accessories can make for great stocking filler ideas. A bamboo toothbrush case will keep your sustainable toothbrush clean and dry, and the bristles kept free from germs. Paired with a bamboo toothbrush, this makes a great stocking filler for your eco-warrior friend.

7: Reusable Tea Strainer - £10.00

A nice cup of tea makes everything better. But maybe not always the environment? Standard teabags contain plastic that takes many years to biodegrade and can release micro-plastics into your brew. Switching to loose leaf tea is a great alternative and this easy-use strainer will make the perfect eco stocking filler for any tea lover.

8: Stainless-Steel Spork - £8.50

Who says eco stocking fillers can’t have a novelty factor? Sporks can be a bit of a comedy item, but they are actually very useful! Light and portable, the lucky recipient will never have to use plastic cutlery ever again.

9: Reusable Milk Bottle Tops - £4.99

Know anyone who gets their milk delivered? These silicone milk bottle tops can replace those flimsy foil tops that come with glass milk bottle deliveries, and they make a great sustainable stocking filler. They fit snugly onto a one pint glass milk bottle, forming an airtight seal and keeping milk fresher for longer. They're also generally handy for reusing glass bottles to keep fresh water or freshly squeezed juice in your fridge.

10: Beeswax Wraps - Pack of three, £14.00

The best kind of eco-friendly stocking fillers are the things people see all the time and think “I must buy those!” yet never seem to get around to buying for themselves. Voila, beeswax wrap! The perfect cling film alternative, with cute patterns into the bargain.

11: Rose Gold Cocktail Straws - £9.95

We'll all need a few cosy cocktail nights to get through this winter, so these will definitely come in handy! The rose gold is super stylish, and they're the perfect size to be used in short cocktail glasses. We love them because, unlike glass or plastic straws, they don’t break or bend, nor do they become a limp wad of paper 10 minutes into your drink. 

www.kempii.co.uk

Recipe Creamy Brussels Sprout Gratin With Cornish Gouda

My wife and I love sprouts! So we were pleased to receive this recipe from the Trewithen Dairy, Creamy Brussels Sprout Gratin With Cornish Gouda.

No Christmas dinner would be complete without the requisite Brussels sprout dish. The humble sprout comes alive when swathed in a rich and velvety sauce of Cornish clotted cream, Cornish Gouda and a generous twang of mustard. 

This woolly blanket of a dish is the perfect winter antidote - delicious served simply with crusty bread or as a festive side dish for the main event.

Serves 6

Ingredients

20g Trewithen Dairy Salted Butter

600g Brussels Sprouts, halved and outer leaves discarded if necessary

1 Onion, sliced

3 Anchovy Fillets, drained and chopped (optional)

120g Trewithen Dairy Cornish Clotted Cream

100g Cornish Gouda, grated (can be substituted with Gruyere, Parmesan or a good cheddar)

300g Chicken Stock (or veg stock)

1 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar

2 tsp Dijon Mustard

Generous grating of fresh Nutmeg - or ½ tsp Dried Nutmeg

Breadcrumbs

2 slices of Stale Bread

20g Cornish Gouda

6-8 Sage Leaves

Method

Preheat the oven to 200c.

Blanch the halved Brussels sprouts in salted boiling water for two minutes, then remove from the heat and drain immediately in a colander. Set aside.

Melt the butter in a saucepan, or oven-proof shallow dish over a medium heat. Saute the onions gently for five minutes. Stir through the anchovies if using and cook through for another couple of minutes before tipping in the blanched and drained brussels sprouts. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, while stirring. Reduce the heat, add the clotted cream, cheese, vinegar, mustard and nutmeg. Season generously to taste.

Tip the mixture into a shallow oven-proof dish, cover with foil (a used butter wrapper works well) and bake for 25 minutes.

In the meantime, put the bread, cheese and sage leaves in a food processor and pulse until you have breadcrumbs.

Remove the foil, tip the breadcrumb mixture over the top and return to the oven for a further 15-20 minutes or until bubbling and golden and crispy on top.

https://www.trewithendairy.co.uk.

Congleton, Cheshire Christmas Market car incident

Cheshire Police have released the following news following an incident at Congleton Christmas Market.

Three teenagers have been bailed following incident in Congleton town centre.

A police spokesperson said: "Three people who were arrested following an incident in Congleton town centre have now been bailed.

"At around 3.55pm on Saturday 26 November, officers asked the driver of a silver Volkswagen Golf to pull over on Mountbatten Way, Congleton.

"The vehicle failed to stop and turned into Market Street and went on to drive down the pedestrianised area of Bridge Street while a Christmas market was taking place.

"The incident caused alarm and distress to shoppers, but fortunately there were no injuries.

"Officers quickly attended and three people were arrested nearby.

"The three suspects, two 16-year-old boys and a 15-year-old girl, were all arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and dangerous driving.

"All three have since been released on conditional bail.

"The incident is not being treated as terrorist related and enquiries remain ongoing."

Inspector Jim Adams, of Congleton Local Policing Unit, said: “I understand the concern this incident is likely to have caused in the local and I would like to reassure residents it is not being treated as a terrorist incident.

“We will continue to have increased patrols in the area and I urge anyone with any concerns to speak to an officer.

“The three teenagers who were arrested in relation to the incident have now been released on conditional bail while we conduct further enquiries.

“As part of our investigation we would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident and saw the occupants fleeing the vehicle.

“The same goes for anyone with any CCTV or video footage of the incident.”

Anyone with any information in relation to the incident is asked to please contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting IML 1422052, information can also be reported online at www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us.