Community groups across Dorset will be able to provide a free cooking course thanks to a new initiative.

Dorset charity The Friendly Food Club  has provided thousands of cooking courses and workshops across the county over the past decade.  

It offers free courses to teach people how to eat more cost effectively and healthier - and now thanks to funding from ​Dorset Council and Waitrose ​the charity is able to develop this further by providing free training to equip community groups in rolling out their own courses. 

Liz Guilmant-Cush, CEO of The Food Friendly Club, said: “Every day we meet people who don’t know how or lack the confidence to cook.

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"From teenagers unable to use tin openers to recently bereaved older people who are dependent on microwave meals.  

"The Get Dorset Cooking training means that we are able to equip community groups to run their own workshops, so that together we can get as much of Dorset cooking as possible.” 

The fully funded training is ideal for, but not exclusive to, foodbanks​ and pantries​, as well as other community-led groups. ​ 

Groups are shown all the essential skills needed in order to run their own cooking sessions safely.

Follow up resources and support are also available to ensure groups can launch out in confidence.   

READ: Dorset Friendly Food Club awarded National Lottery grant

Before attending a training session in Weymouth, NHS Patient Participation Group Chair Sue Brunt found that patients were prevented from preparing healthy meals due to a lack of confidence and knowledge, which affected their ability to manage chronic health conditions.  

She said: “The Get Dorset Cooking training has inspired us to run cookery courses that remove barriers to improved health and better lifestyles.” 

Libby Lloyd, a senior youth leader at Treads Youth Advice & Information Centre in Blandford has also recently completed the training.

She said: “We’re finding that many young people are not maintaining a healthy diet. Parents lack time to prepare home-cooked meals, leading families to rely on ready-meals and unhealthy snacks.”

READ: Friendly Food Club helps 2000 people with cooking skills

Since having completed the training Treads have integrated cooking courses into their sessions equipping local young people to cook healthy, nutritious meals for themselves as well as passing this knowledge on to their families.  

The next training in Weymouth will take place on September 18 and in Wimborne on October 10.

Further dates will be confirmed throughout the autumn. 

Find out more at: www.thefriendlyfoodclub.org/get-dorset-cooking.