Thanks to the amazing Marcus Walters for our front cover design!

A Charity Cookbook

Every minute in the UK, the police receive a call related to domestic violence. This represents an estimated 1,300 calls each day or over 570,000 each year and the estimated total cost of domestic abuse to society in monetary terms is £23 billion per annum.

What started as a simple idea during Lockdown 3 (January 2021) came to fruition in just under 9 months and is now raising much needed funds for Stroud Women’s Refuge.

Alongside Tom Kerridge, Diana Henry, Thomasina Miers, the book features recipes from Stroud Five Valley favourites such as Giffords Circus, Jolly Nice, Wilder and Stroud Brewery.

​All profits from the sale of the book will go to Stroud Women’s Refuge, who rely solely on the generosity of donors to offer accommodation and support services to women and their children who have been affected by domestic abuse.

I hope you enjoy reading the book, trying the recipes and learning more about the work of the Refuge.

Carl Benton’s initiative in putting together a cookbook to raise money for Stroud Women’s Refuge is admirable in every way. It is a remarkable charity, and its resources are more needed than ever. It needs all our support. It has mine. Please help by donating a recipe. It’s not a lot to ask, but a collectively you can give a great deal.” - Matthew Fort Great British Menu Judge

We are so blessed to have fantastic campaigners and fundraisers in Stroud.  Carl’s work to create a cookbook to raise money for Stroud’s Women’s Refuge is very exciting.  The Refuge provides much needed support for women and their families who are fleeing domestic violence.  They change lives in so many ways.  I am pleased to support the Personal Best venture.” - Siobhan Baillie, MP Member of Parliament for Stroud, the Valleys and Vale

Please support Carl Benton and his cookery book. It is wonderful finding someone so dedicated to making the lives of women and children safer. I wish him every success with the project.” - Jilly Cooper CBE, Author & Journalist