Eggs, Beans & Dreams: How you can support Manchester charity The Big Breakfast

The long-awaited Big Breakfast cookbook has finally arrived! With over 75 different vegetarian recipes hailing from local residents, Manchester cafés and local chefs, all alongside enticing food photography—this would make a great gift for any budding cooks this Christmas.

Every recipe is designed to be simple and user-friendly, so no matter what your skill, you’ll find yourself mastering a whole handful of sweet treats, breads and the famous Big Breakfast cinnamon rolls. Once printed, all the proceeds will go straight back into the Destitution Project, making your purchase a win, win, win. With only limited copies available, snatch up this gem while you can!

Designed by local artist, Stanley Chow—who is also responsible for those now-iconic cartoon-style prints of Mancunian icons—are The Big Breakfast’s very own tote bag and tea towel.  The screen-printed tote is totally fairtrade and is made from organic cotton along with the tea towel. Starting from a tenner for each, this is a great opportunity to support this south Manchester refugee charity, whilst simultaneously supporting a local Mancunian artist, whilst ALSO adding a lovely new addition to your kitchen / shoulder.

Whether you crochet, make ceramic homeware or screen-print yourself—donating your work to The Big Breakfast to sell is an excellent way to get those creative gears in place whilst knowing your hobby or small business is truly making a difference for the local community.

At the last community breakfast, Manchester ceramicist Linzi Jayne Ramsden had a whole collection of her hanging ceramic pieces made specifically for the St. Brides project—and you could do the same! Whether you buy from one of the crafters or donate your work to be sold itself, this offers a great fusion of creativity and community to be a part of.

After the events of lockdown last year, the charity, like many others, took a big hit. Because of this, any involvement in their monthly community breakfasts would be very much appreciated. From cooking and serving to helping clean up—The Big Breakfast relies on volunteer help to keep it all going.

Let your friends and family know about this great organisation going down in Old Trafford! Whether you pass on links to the community cookbook, tag The Big Breakfast’s Instagram account in a new pic of your tote bag or post about all the lovely things happening at the next event (Sat 11 Dec)—getting the word out and showing some well-deserved love and support will go a long way. Kick-off December with some festive spirit and get yourself down to St Brides to see for yourself the amazing work the lovely lot down at The Big Breakfast are doing.