Lancaster comedian, Jon Richardson, has been dropping into some Lancashire organisations with a film crew this month.
The 8 Out of 10 Cats star has been seen at an Accrington day care provider and community centre in Preston in recent weeks.
Jon has been filming some promotional footage for a charity network called Fareshare UK, which aims to fight food poverty and reduce food waste.
Recently, he dropped into Accrington’s Motiv8-lancs CIC Centre which provides daytime activities for adults living with Asperger’s syndrome, with learning disabilities or autism.
Here, he spoke to some of the clients learning more about what happens at the centre, as well as how they cook and prepare food.
He also took part in a special Makaton performance of The Greatest Showman’s A Million Dreams.
Tracy Robinson, one of the organisation’s director’s, said: “He was really friendly and opened up about how his mum worked in the care industry, so we think he had a greater understanding of what our organisation it is really about.
“We sang and signed a Makaton version of The Greatest Showman’s ‘A Million Dreams’ and he really got stuck in.
“He told us he really enjoyed his time here and as it gave him a greater understanding of what we do and the people we help.”
Food at the centre comes from Fareshare and Tracy said their meals are far from dull.
She said: “The food we get is amazing from Fareshare. We get steak, lamb mince, cakes as well as lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and more.”
Tracy said she is grateful that people, like Jon, are willing to shine a light on the organisation and raise some more awareness for people with disabilities.
She said: “I think we were chosen to participate in the project as we are one of the only local organisations that Fareshare deal with, who have adults with learning disabilities and autism.
“We need to highlight what we do and what disabled people are capable of.
"Some people think those with learning disabilities can’t achieve the same things as everyone else and they can.
“We teach them lifelong skills and we are a very education day centre – we don’t just do cooking, we teach them a vast array of topics.”
It’s not the only organisation in Lancashire that Jon visited for Fareshare’s project.
He also paid a trip to Preston’s Intact Centre, a charity which provides services and activities for local people in the Ingol area and across Preston.
Jon visited the centre, met the staff and saw the fantastic work we do with programmes like Thrifty Kitchen and Whitby Pantry.
Thrifty Kitchen teaches basic cookery skills to adults who want to learn, with no fancy equipment or expensive ingredients required.
Their Whitby Pantry is a membership-based food club which gives local people access to around £25 worth of supermarket food for just £5.
Beyond food services, the Intact Centre also teaches employment skills and acts as a venue for community meetings.
To learn more about Fareshare UK visit the company website at: https://fareshare.org.uk/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here