We have been cooking with the young people since 2006, and later went on to work with the wider community when we saw a rise in demand from the community.
We use a-lot of the produce we grow on the allotments such as; Potatoes, onions, peppers, and a wide variety of herbs.
While teaching these cooking classes we make sure that the people we work with realise the important of Food Hygiene and Safety, which covers the correct storing of food and goods, as well as what food poisoning bacteria are present while cooking and how to manage them, as well as including nutrition advice as it is a critical part of a healthy lifestyle and development.
Another key subject to cover in these training sessions includes looking at food allergens, and the importance of making people aware of what allergens are present in their food as it could save their life.
We have seen over 110 Young people and adults gain their qualifications in either a level 1 or 2 food safety qualification. Two members of staff, Sean Massey and Lesley Lever have achieved their Level 3 for food safety supervision for catering.
Robert Broomfield who has seen a large number of our members through the Food Safety Course had this to say;
“Having taught last week at Lower Kersal Young People and Community Group at St. Aidan’s Church in Salford, I would like to express my admiration for the work that you and your team are doing for the young people of Salford. This being the second time i have now delivered the Level 1 Food Safety in catering course to your members, can i say how extremely impressed i was, not only by their politeness and how well mannered they are, which made them an absolute pleasure to teach, but also by the amount and range of knowledge that such young people has in relation to food and the safe preparation of ingredients.
As a tutor, in the age of phones, PlayStations, Etc, I am fully aware of how difficult it is to engage young people in such worthwhile projects, as the ones that you encourage at your centre.
In addition I was also very happy to see so many familiar faces from last time, as well as your new members, obviously the young people are greatly enjoying the project s they are taking part in at the centre, and enjoying learning new skills from you.
The successful progression to Level 2 for one of your members Sean Massey was also very encouraging to see, and the fact that this has helped him to gain a place on a Level 2 catering apprentice course at Salford Skills Centre, is just further testimony a s to how many organisations like yours are making a real difference to the young people of Salford, Long may this continue”
Lesley Lever spoke about what encouraged her to start teaching people how to cook;
“I started cooking from a young age, making cakes on a Saturday morning with my Aunt and my Mum. The sights, and smells that came with cooking were all around me, during my childhood.
When I was in high school, we were given the choice of type writing, or home economics. I chose the latter, and loved it. We had the chance to manage a budget, in order to make a meal and invite two teachers along.
My friend and I went shopping to a small Tesco (As small as a corner shop) and we made a starter, main and a desert. I always remember that my friend could not cook! So she did the washing up.
The meal was presented in a small flat, which the school provided for use to the class. It was excellent. We also had regular cooking sessions, and I always remember making puff pastry.
We also had regular sewing lessons, in which everybody had to make a skirt, and a bag. School in those days was a lot more practical, and we learnt skills that helped with day to day life.
As a youth worker, I look to pass those skills on to the people I work with today, in the hopes that I can help them as much as I was helped as a young person.”
