Sainsbury’s has linked up with Comic Relief for a ‘Twelve Recipes of Christmas’ campaign to help raise awareness of food poverty and the work of charities that distribute products to those in need.

The campaign is part of the supermarket’s Meals Make Memories campaign and involves recipes shared by “six incredible community heroes", involved in tackling food poverty.

Each dish is designed to be affordable and with ingredients can be easily swapped with other items.

Recipe contributors each have “first-hand experience of the ingenuity and creativity of communities facing difficult times over the festive period”, said Sainsbury’s.

This includes Shelaine, a driver for City Harvest, who shares her family's Coca-Cola Ham dish.

Another is Pam, City Harvest’s longest-standing volunteer, who shares Jamaican Christmas meals of Curry Goat and Brown Stew Chicken.

To promote the campaign Sainsbury’s has released results of a survey showing that more than three in four people say food creates their happiest festive memories.

Turkey and mince pies are the unsurprising top Christmas foods mentioned.

But the supermarket points out that for the 14m facing food insecurity in the UK affording such festive treats can be challenging.

“Food has a unique power to connect us and create lasting memories,” said Sainsbury’s direct of sustainability Ruth Crainston.

“For the millions facing food poverty, those moments can be harder to reach. At Sainsbury’s, we believe good food should be available to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

“This Christmas, we’re proud to share these recipes that prove creativity and community spirit can bring warmth and connection to the table.”

Comic Relief chief executive Samir Patel added: “For some of us, food and mealtimes sit at the heart of our happiest moments, but for so many across the UK they remain the source of enormous worry.

“Comic Relief’s partnership with Sainsbury’s is focused on ensuring that no one has to make difficult choices when it comes to feeding themselves or their family, and that everyone can experience the comfort and connection often associated with good food.

"This festive season, we’re delighted to be sharing these delicious recipes from six dedicated community workers, who work around the clock to support people facing food poverty.

“We hope these recipes will help spread a little joy this winter, while sparking urgent conversations around food insecurity and our ambition of giving more people access to the positive memories that meals can bring.”

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