Community Kitchen serves up recipe packs for South Tyneside food bank users
A South Tyneside charity is helping families prepare practical food recipes at home.
Families and individuals accessing support through Key to Life Foodbank will soon receive more than just emergency food parcels, thanks to the next phase of Community Kitchen, a partnership between Key Community and All Saints Church, Cleadon.
From this week, the first 40 emergency food parcels distributed by the foodbank will include recipe cards and pre-packed ingredients needed to recreate simple, affordable meals at home.
Designed around recipes shared during Community Kitchen sessions, the packs will help people make the most of everyday ingredients while building confidence in the kitchen.
‘Sharing practical skills and simple recipes’
Once the initial recipe packs have been distributed, printed recipes will continue to be available from Key to Life Foodbank, with downloadable versions also available on the Key Community website.
Community Kitchen brings together local chefs to share practical recipes that are affordable, nutritious and easy to prepare at home. Since launching in September, sessions have already been delivered by chef Pete Zulu of The Black Horse, West Boldon and chef Jonathan Phinn of Bistro Romano, with further sessions planned in the coming months.
Marie Burnett, Poverty Prevention team leader at Key Community, said: "Foodbanks play an important role in providing emergency support, but we also want to help people feel confident preparing healthy, affordable meals at home.
“Community Kitchen is about sharing practical skills and simple recipes that can help people make the most of the ingredients available to them.
‘Cooking doesn't have to be complicated’
Pete Zulu, owner of The Black Horse, said: "My part in this is to take whatever I get from the foodbank and try to make it a little more interesting. If it creates a spark of interest and encourages somebody to have a go, then that's fantastic.
"Don't be scared to experiment. Cooking doesn't have to be complicated, it’s about having the confidence to give things a try."
Beverley George of All Saints Church said: “It's fantastic to see the project develop and for the recipes and ingredients to now be reaching families through the foodbank, turning that idea into something people can use and benefit from straight away."
The Community Kitchen project will continue over the coming months, with recipe videos, cooking demonstrations and downloadable recipe cards being added to the Key Community website as more local chefs get involved.
For more information, visit www.keycommunity.org.uk.