Thousands of people have been benefiting from cookery classes aimed at teaching people how to eat healthily on a budget.
The Friendly Food Club offers free cookery classes and workshops to people of all ages across Dorset and in 2023 the charity helped 2,022 people in the west of the county.
They offer free workshops that show people the benefits of cooking fresh meals at home and look to inspire confidence, especially in young families.
The charity’s CEO and one of the cookery tutors teaching people about healthy eating on a budget, Liz Guilmant-Cush, explains why the charity does what it does.
She said: “It is about getting fresh fruit and veg in front of them and to try foods they may not have at home, how to use knives safely, and really building up the confidence of parents to allow their children to do various tasks in the kitchen
“It is about peeling back the layers on cooking and how to make it attractive to young families.”
A lot of the charity’s work is done in and around the Weymouth and Portland area as a lot of their funding is allocated to the area, and is not only helping young families, but people of all ages are encouraged to take part in their events.
Liz added: “We are working with STEPS youth club in Weymouth, with teenagers to help with their independence - that is really interesting.
“We also work with a group called Stability, for adults with learning difficulties and the volunteer centre, giving knowledge of nutrition and healthy eating, to build confidence to look after themselves.”
Not only do they provide advice and tips on how to prepare healthy meals made from fresh produce, they are also teaching people on how to be more energy efficient with their kitchen appliances.
Liz continued: “A lot of work over this last winter we worked with Westham Methodist Church and food banks on how to use energy efficient equipment.
“All the fuss about air fryers has all been about people not wanting to put ovens on.
“It is about how we can encourage people in bedsits and multi occupancy housing, how can we help with equipment and how to use it.”
As well as providing people with the opportunity to help themselves, the charity also provides food boxes for people to take home with them to share their knowledge with family and friends.
Liz added: "Some people who come along to a workshop may also get a cook bag to use at home with what they have just seen in the class.
"It helps reinforce the learning and to share with their family and friends which gives them a sense of achievement.”
As well as setting up the events when people get in touch with them, they are also about to start a weekly drop in session at St Francis Church on Merridin Close from 10am until 12pm staring from Monday, March 4.
A new training programme is also being offered to other community groups, which is funded by Dorset Council and Public Health Dorset, in partnership with the charity, which is aiming to get Dorset cooking.
Liz said: “It is really exciting, hopefully that will mean lots more cooking sessions going on – any community group in Dorset can apply to come along to the funded workshops.”
To find out more about the Friendly Food Club and how to take advantage of their free workshops or to enrol in the training programme visit https://www.thefriendlyfoodclub.org/
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