Baking Buddies is back on the Lower Shankill

Baking Buddies, an exciting project for all the family developed at St Michael’s and St Stephen’s Parish Churches in Lower Shankill, Belfast, is back!

The project began in the autumn of 2020, sharing four recipes for children to try their hand at, and was followed at Christmas with two more fun seasonal recipes. Now, Baking Buddies has returned with four brand new recipes for children to try out at home.

The Rev Canon Jim Carson, rector of St Michael’s and St Stephen’s said: “Thanks to funding from Belfast City Council and the Black Santa appeal, we can run four more weeks of Baking Buddies for our after-school club and Sunday school children.
“We are also very grateful to our Neighbourhood Police Team who support us in delivering our Baking Buddies bags of goodies to our young families. There is great excitement when they arrive!”

The Baking Buddies demonstration videos are produced by Karen Webb, Lead Evangelist with the North Belfast Centre of Mission, and Jill Hamilton, Diocesan Children’s Worker, with help from puppets Jake and Rosie.

The videos are shared on the St Michael’s Facebook page with a new one each week for four weeks. This series began on February 16, 2021.

Baking Buddies is back on the Lower Shankill
Some of the children who have been busy with the Baking Buddies project

Families who register for Baking Buddies receive a pack each week with all the ingredients they need to make the recipe. The interest in Baking Buddies is growing with around 20 families registered to take part.
Jim said: “The project is a great way for the church to stay connected with the children and families in the local area who are normally involved in children’s clubs through the week and on Sundays. Baking Buddies has put a smile on everyone’s faces during a difficult time!”