Argyle in Aprons delivered as part of Project 35
Project 35, our landmark social impact project in partnership with Ginsters aimed at tackling poverty in Devon and Cornwall, has been active in the Plymouth community delivering adult food education programmes to promote sustainable and healthy cooking at home.
The four-week programme, delivered by Food is Fun and funded by Plymouth City Council and NHS Devon, is now in its second cohort. Sessions teach local adults vital but simple cooking skills using a slow cooker, and education on hygiene and nutrition through national campaigns like Sugar Smart and The Eatwell Guide.
From the outset, it was determined that holistic support through education is a vital element for the sustained success of Project 35 to create long-term behaviour change and support people to overcome poverty challenges as opposed to relying on the short-term relief of food donations.
Argyle Community Trust Community Engagement Project Manager Alice Young said: “Argyle in Aprons combines education and food support, with each adult leaving each session with the meal they prepared, the recipe cards and cooking instructions, and at the end of the programme they take home their own slow cooker. This enables them to take the knowledge away with them to cook sustainably and healthily at home for themselves and their families.”
Food is Fun Co-Director Tami Skelton said: “By partnering with Project 35 we can reach people and work with people that genuinely need and want what we are able to offer.
“By the end of the course you can see that they’re going to go away armed with that new level of self-confidence and pride in what they’ve learnt and what they’ve achieved.
“They are going to make those healthier and better choices and ultimately save money and have a better relationship with food.”
Argyle in Aprons participant Tim Tolliday added: “I’ve learnt a lot. It’s basic food, it’s easy to prepare, it’s easy to cook. I like the simplicity of what they teach.”
Read more about Project 35 and how you can get involved here https://www.pafc.co.uk/project35 and follow the Trust and Club news and social channels to discover the incredible initiatives taking place in 2023 as we continue to tackle poverty in Plymouth, Devon, and Cornwall.