The idea started when Samara found with her own mum's handwritten recipes. It sparked a thought - just how many memories are shaped by the meals we have and the people we eat them with? Samara began writing recipes with her own daughter, Nevaeh and shared the idea with Cath, who runs the Greater Good Project CIC.

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Both Cath and Samara had recently lost their Mums and they knew other locally who had too. 

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With support from a Haslingden Big Lamp Project grant, the cookbook became a reality. Cath's deep roots in the community and her work through The Greater Good Project means people trust her to keep their stories true.

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How it worked

Samara and Cath are invited people to share:

• Recipes that mean something to you - the ones passed down through the generations.

• The stories behind the food - memories of family meals, traditions and the people who made them

On 9th January 2026 the team held a drop-in session at Haslingden Community Link. Local people emailed their recipes and stories to haslingdencookbook@gmail.com

 

The book was designed by local graphic designer Miisprint, printed locally and given away for free. They team celebrated with a launch event on Mother's Day weekend at Haslingden Market.

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Why it matters.

This project is about more than just recipes. It's about connection, community and kindness - especially at a time when many try to spread division. 

In Haslingden, they do things differently. They care about each other and want to show they have more in common than that which divides them.