Month: February 2019

THE sweet smell of spring is in the air – because, to celebrate Easter, The Swan Hotel in Kineton is hosting a charity Chocolate Tasting Afternoon.

The event, on Sunday, April 14^th, will be presented by Henley Chocolates founder Sally Daniels, who will talk about the history of chocolate followed by a chocolate-making demonstration and even the chance to taste.

The self-taught chocolatier’s business grew from humble beginnings, making a few truffles in her kitchen, to her current artisan shop and workshop at Yew Tree Farm Craft Centre in Henley-in-Arden where customers can watch their chocolates being made. She also runs chocolate-making workshops.

The chocolates are all handmade by Sally and her team using sustainable ingredients purchased where possible from small local producers.

Proceeds from the event, as well as a raffle on the day, will go to Friends of Kineton Primary School.

Sally said: “I am super excited to be supporting such a great cause. At Henley Chocolates we are passionate about hand crafting delicious artisan chocolate from real sustainable ingredients and looking after the people and environment around us.

“We also believe in having fun and so as a mum it is great to have the opportunity to contribute to the amazing work of The Friends of Kineton Primary School- not only assisting with purchasing educational materials but also helping to fund extra-curricular fun activities for the children.

“I really enjoy sharing my knowledge of chocolate with others, enabling them to discover fantastic flavours and maybe even inspiring them to have a go at chocolate-making in the future.

“The afternoon will be a celebration of all things chocolate, from its fun playful nature to the serious world of award-winning truffle making.”

The talk and demonstration start at 2pm and there will also be the opportunity to buy chocolates at the end.

Tickets cost £10 and include a welcome glass of prosecco and nibbles. They are available behind the bar at The Swan or by calling 01926 640664.

The Swan www.theswankineton.co.uk

Henley Chocolates www.henleychocolates.co.uk

STRATFORD’S Foodbank is facing an exceptionally high demand – putting pressure on food stocks, specifically short shelf life items such as UHT milk and UHT juice.

Supplies of rice are also running low. These items are essential to the charity, enabling them to provide nutritionally balanced emergency food parcels to those facing crisis in the Stratford area.

Foodbank Manager Marion Homer said: “Unfortunately, our volunteers are coping with a high and growing need for our services.

“After a 57% growth in demand in 2017, due we believe to the introduction of Universal Credit, we had hoped it would fall back. However, 2018 saw a further 11% increase, and in the early weeks of 2019 we have seen another worrying rise. In January we distributed a total of 344 emergency food parcels, compared to 186 in the same period last year.

“What’s even more concerning is the number of children we support, reflecting the trend that more and more families are needing our help. The percentage of children receiving our parcels rose from an average of 27%, over the lifetime of our foodbank, to 41% in January this year. In real figures we fed 140 children this January compared to 55 last January.

“It is against this growth in demand that we once again seek the help of Stratford residents. Fortunately, local people continue to be generous and food donations have also risen. In 2017 we received over £50,000 worth of food and in 2018 that climbed to over £58,000. However, we do need to ask for continued help, and right now we badly need donations of UHT milk, UHT juice and rice.”

Donations of tinned and packet food (no fresh or chilled items) can be left at the Foodbank’s collection baskets at Tesco, Morrison’s, Waitrose, Budgens in Bidford, and at Holy Trinity Church. Items can also be bought directly to the Foodbank’s warehouse on the car park at Tesco, opposite the Click ‘n’ Collect area on a Monday and Wednesday afternoon between 2pm and 3.30pm.

About Stratford upon Avon Foodbank:

• Since starting in Jan 2013, Stratford’s foodbank has distributed 10,264 food parcels, 27% of which were for children.
•  In 2017, the foodbank distributed 2,163 parcels – a 57% year on year rise
•  In 2018 the foodbank distributed 2411 parcels – an 11% year on year rise
•  In 2017 30% of parcels went to children, in 2018 31% went to children
• An average 200 parcels a month are currently distributed
•  Most clients visit the foodbank a maximum of two times.
• Food parcels are designed for short-term emergency use, each parcel provides three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced tinned and packet food
• Foodbank vouchers are distributed through referral agencies such as Citizens Advice, and Stratford District Council and various other community health services.
• In January 2019 children represented 41% of all parcels distributed. 

Find out more at https://stratforduponavon.foodbank.org.uk/