Get Cookin' in Mid Devon

Food Standards Agency Grant Winner 2007

Tina Henry talks about the 'Get cookin' project which took place in Mid Devon DC in summer 07.

This project utilised existing cooking skills tutors in the community to run a series of cooking skills courses for children, young people and young parents in a target deprived area.

Aims and Objectives

To deliver a number of courses on cooking skills with a food hygiene element
To provide a resource pack to each participant
To provide support for the hosts to run future courses ie. the framework and resource pack

Partners

Mid Devon District Council
Devon PCT

Methodology

We contacted the PCT cooking skills tutors (which had been trained in a previous PCT/MDDC initiative) We then established with the tutors who had already contacted, or been contacted by, a large target audience. The tutors then contacted the eligible groups. eg. schools, Homestart centre, etc

The cooking skills courses were delivered with an added food hygiene element for those who were interested. (Three passed thier level 2 certificate.)

Promotion

The host venues recruited participants via word of mouth.

Resources

Mid Devon District council paid for tutor time, travel, food to be cooked, a resource pack and the creche places needed.

The host provided venue, staff, and facitlites. All sites had kitchen facitlites and equipment.

Evaluation

All the tools used to evaluate the courses are avaliable below.

The course was well evaluated with 70 attendees on the courses, of these 38 were children or teenagers. 100% of atendees enjoyed the course, lots of attendees said they had used the recipes again and that they all now eat more healthily.

Lessons Learned

Support can be provided to organise courses but without funds potential hosts would not be able to afford to pay tutors buy food etc.

Although a great idea, which meant that young mums could attend, running a creche is not easy.

Future Developments

The resource pack will continue to be provided to those who wish to run the course and EH will continue to give food hygiene input if hosts can afford to run the course.

Contact Details

Contact Name: Tina Henry

Job Title: Health Services Manager

Phone: (01884) 244606

Email: thenry@middevon.gov.uk

Fax:

Website:

Organisation: Mid Devon District Council

Address: Health and Community Services Mid Devon District Council Phoenix House Phoenix Lane Tiverton Devon EX16 6PP

Other Resources:

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