Food Groups - weekly plant based cooking sessions in a community hub to learn new skills and meet new people.
The Pitch
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Salary cost of community chef | £3,000 |
| Running costs such as, electricity, water, rent & insurance | £1,000 |
| Cooking ingredients & jars for preserves | £1,000 |
Beneficiaries
32 people
Expected impact
The programme will focus on single people living in our neighbourhood. Since we introduced our food bank in March 2020, we have met many older people living alone often with no family support. We have also met people with absolutely no cooking skills and often only a microwave to heat ready meals. One morning each week, we will bring people together to gain the skills and confidence they need to prepare simple, low cost meals using vegetables grown in our garden and donated by our partner, Kentish Town Vegbox. Participants will meet other local people of different ages and cultures who will each bring their own flavour to cooking sessions, making new friends and connections. 4 groups of 8 people will work together over 6 months and will:1. Experience reduced loneliness.2. Make new social connections and feel happier.3. Improve cooking skills.4. Eat a healthier range of food.
Track record
“The cooking classes have been an immense help to my mental wellbeing during this coronavirus pandemic. Jackie is an excellent tutor ‘. ‘Oh dear! What can we do without the holistic cooking classes and Jackie. It’s a day we all look forward to every week. The class is both a fun place to be and cook where we share cooking and taste a variety of food across the world and share ideas about food/cooking and social activities”.