HOME-COOKING is a guessing game which can leave you overwhelmed with leftovers and begrudgingly scraping plates into the bin.

But if you're a generous cook who prefers to make more rather than less there may now be a worthy use for your excess food.

Brighton and Hove Food Partnership has launched the first Casserole Club in the city, which is aimed at reducing loneliness through sharing a meal.

The scheme urges people to share their extra portions with others in their area who might not always be able to cook for themselves.

Like a local, community-led takeaway, members serve up meals to neighbours, encouraging the cooking of fresh food, while strengthening local relationships with every bite.

The idea was developed by FutureGov, a digital design company which aims to makes public services more effective and efficient.

Charity Brighton and Hove Impetus and marketing agency Bright Dials are working on the project locally, with Big Lottery funding pilot schemes in two areas - Westbourne, Goldsmid and Central Hove; and Queen’s Park and Hanover and Elm Grove.

Brighton and Hove Food Partnership director Vic Borrill said: “This is an exciting opportunity to deliver a new project in the city and for us to work with two new partners both of whom are committed to using food to reduce loneliness in the city.

“Casserole Club neatly fits with the ambition of the Food Poverty Action Plan to become a city that cooks and eats together as it gets more people eating and cooking fresh meals while strengthening local neighbourhood relationships.”

The Casserole Club has website which allows cooks to sign up and find neighbours who would benefit from a home-cooked hot meal.

Cooks need to complete a food hygiene quiz and to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before they can be introduced to a diner and arrange a time to share their food.

Diners are referred to the project by people they know and trust, such as friends or family member, or someone running a service that the diner is receiving, such a lunch club, day centre, sheltered housing or older person’s voluntary group.

Social workers, GPs and hospital discharge teams can also refer diners, while diners can refer themselves by phoning up their local Casserole Club.

The Club is already live in Barnet, Surrey, Staffordshire, Tameside, Cheshire West & Chester and also three councils in Victoria, Australia.

For more information and to sign up, go to casseroleclub.com