11 volunteers at Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue got together this week to cook for women and children supported by the domestic abuse charity Solace Women’s Aid which aims to end Violence Against Women and Girls. The group cooked vegetarian shepherd’s pie followed by apple crumble.

The project was a joint venture between the United Synagogue Chesed department, Tikun and Stanmore’s new Yad b’Yad social action programme funded by the US Community Development Fund for new synagogue initiatives.

Sara Greenfield, a member of Stanmore who cooked and organised the event, said: “At this time of year, when many of us get so much, it’s nice to be able to give something back to those who don’t.”

Michelle Minsky, Head of US Chesed, said: “I was delighted to participate in Stanmore’s cookery event which has kicked off our joint winter volunteering programme with Tikun. There was a great atmosphere among the cooks and this was a wonderful example of one of our projects which support the wider community.”