“I want to help anyone who needs it,” says a Sunderland mum-of-two who’s turned her passion for cooking into a new community project.

Jo Begum, from Millfield, has launched Sincerely, J to provide quality, home-cooked meals for those in need.

Jo Begum is launching a new community project | Submitted

placeholder image — Jo Begum is launching a new community project | Submitted

She’s been working with the team at Pallion Action Group (PAG) to provide comfort foods such as pastas, bbq chicken wraps and chicken biriyani to men’s mental health groups and more and also made dishes for the recent Unity in Community event at Sunderland Minster.

Moving forward, Jo’s also aiming to work alongside charities such as MIND and will be providing winter warm packs.

“I just want to help anyone who needs it, I don’t want any rules,” said Jo. “No one needs to think they are too young or that they don’t qualify, it’s for everyone.

“A lot of people just don’t have access to home-cooked food and I’m good at it, so I thought why not cook for others. The feedback so far has been amazing, all my dishes went at Unity in the Community and everyone said they really enjoyed them.”

Some of the dishes Jo provides through the project | Submitted

This weekend, Jo is hosting an event called Royalty at PAG in East Moor Road on Saturday, November 22 dedicated to parents and carers of SEND children, giving them a chance to relax, connect and feel appreciated over home-cooked food and community spirit.

Jo said: “We have a child with special needs and when I first had them it was a real struggle, so I just want to help and support other parents so they feel appreciated and can feel like they can share their stories with others over a good meal.

“It’s about bringing communities together through food.”

*Anyone who would like to work with Sincerely, J can contact via the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SincerelyJCharity?locale=en_GB