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‘Holiday Kitchen’ helps Greater Manchester families keep it fresh and healthy
Families in Greater Manchester have been learning how to eat healthily and reduce their food bills at a series of events being held across the region.
The region is hosting 12 ‘Holiday Kitchen’ programmes throughout August offering free and affordable meals and activities that improve children’s well-being and educational opportunities.
The programmes, which involve eight sessions across the summer break, are being held thanks to a collaboration between 14 of the region’s social housing providers.
Jon Lord, our Chief Executive and Chair of the Greater Manchester Housing Providers Group, said: “This is a great example of housing organisations across the region working together to provide activities for their tenants and the wider community, helping families to reduce the financial and emotional strain of the school holidays.”
Bolton resident Terri Mayoh took her two daughters to one of the events at the New Bury community building on George Street. They were one of nine families there learning how to make healthy fajita wraps. Terri’s family have started to grow their own food, both at home and using an allotment.
Terri said: “This is a really good way of bringing the community together in the holidays and helping children gain a better knowledge of healthy eating and understanding where food comes from.”
Paige Turner, 10, who attended with her dad, said: “We’ve never had roasted peppers or sweet potato before. I like that they’re tasty and healthy. I’ve cooked curries at home, with help from my dad and days like this make me think about cooking food a lot more.”
Holiday Kitchen was launched in 2013 in Birmingham by Ashrammoseley housing association and the programme has become so successful it's now being rolled out nationwide.
The programmes engage families in play-based learning that promotes good nutrition, physical activity, creativity, social skills, communal eating, and cost-effective cooking skills.
Dr Caroline Wolhuter, Head of Social Inclusion at Ashrammoseley housing association, said: “While an idealised time for some, for many, including those on low incomes, nursery and school holiday periods can be a time of stress, indebtedness and food poverty. During this time some families are most at risk of food poverty associated with less fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and oily fish intake.”
Since summer 2014 Holiday Kitchen has been developed in collaboration with national charity Family Action. With support and funds from Children in Need, Kellogg’s, the Greater Manchester Housing Providers Group, Ongo and Public Health England, it's delivering at least 7,200 activity days with meals through 32 programmes during this summer’s school holidays across Greater Manchester, Birmingham, the West Midlands, Nottingham and Lincolnshire.
The Greater Manchester housing associations supporting and taking part in the Holiday Kitchen programme are Adactus, Arawak Walton, Bolton at Home, City West, First Choice Homes Oldham, Great Places, New Charter, One Manchester, Regenda, Southway, Stockport Homes, St Vincents HA, Trafford Housing Trust and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.
Pictured preparing one of the meals in the Holiday Kitchen at the New Bury community building in Bolton are Zachary Hornby, Jayden Diggle, Codie-Leigh Corkill and Paige Turner.