Dowlais Cooking for Pleasure Group
About 3 years ago Dowlais Community Development Forum thought up the idea of offering Cookery Taster sessions to improve the health & well being of local residents. Initially 4 sessions were offered. They attracted young married and single mums whose cookery skills were practically nil. They learned to cook from scratch whilst keeping within a budget using fruit and vegetables. They were educating themselves and their children, eating a balanced diet and encouraging their children to eat a healthy, well balanced diet. As a result of the success of the taster sessions people from all ages with different levels of cooking skills joined

Food Standards Agency Wales runs the annual Awards for Food Action Locally (AFAL) scheme to recognise individual or team contributions to local nutrition initiatives that have made a positive impact on the diet or eating habits of residents in the communities where they work.

The awards have provided excellent opportunities to highlight the good practice demonstrated by the winners and runners-up, and have been a real motivator for others wanting to undertake similar activities. To date more than 270 nominations have been received from local communities who are actively tackling diet and nutrition issues across Wales.

One of the inspirational groups who have won an Afal Award this year is the Dowlais Cooking For Pleasure group. The group formed in 2005 when members of the community identified that there was a need and interest in learning how to cook healthily and economically therefore a series of taster sessions were set up. The group has now developed into an inter-generational group and has gained OCN certificates for courses completed by the group on a range of subjects ranging from reduced salt cook to European cooking.

There is great enthusiasm from the cooking club members and the key words are PASSION, ENERGY and ENTHUSIASM! The classes have generated something that has changed the lives of individuals and families involved, and now they are the talk of the town.

The award comprises of a grant of £2000 for the group to use to further their knowledge and skills. The groups are hoping to attend a cooking school.

Hayley Jenkins:- Dowlais Community Development Forum, 20/20A Spring Street, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 3RR hayley.jenkins@merthyr.gov.uk

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