A new Suffolk community kitchen launches today with the aim of creating stronger bonds across the generations by hosting grandparent-grandchildren cookery sessions.
The refurbished kitchen at the Leiston Road Community Centre in Haverhill opens as part of the Kitchen Love campaign, which hopes to preserve family favourite recipes – but with a healthy twist.
Launched by food campaigners Hubbub and in partnership with NEFF and B&Q, the initiative is also hoped to “spark a love of cooking in children”.
The campaign will hold its official launch this Sunday for National Grandparents’ Day. It seeks to redress the findings of new research showing half of grandparents have never cooked with their grandchildren by leading a special six-week cookery course developed by chefs Nicky Corbishley and Jane Sarchet.
It will help grandparents brush up on their cookery skills while grandchildren will learn to make favourite dishes with a “modern, healthy spin”.
The family recipes will also feature in a digital recipe book available on NEFF’s website to ensure they are not lost.
Hubbub CEO Trewin Restorick said the kitchen will hopefully see “generations meet up, create meals together and build stronger bonds”. “Through the cookery lessons and the shared dinners, we believe that children and their families will renew their love of cooking from scratch and eating together as well as get a greater understanding of the benefits of doing this as a family on their health and well-being,” he added.
Colin Pole, clerk to Haverhill Community Trust which owns the community centre, said the trust was “thrilled” to be part of Kitchen Love. “Not only is this a great opportunity to teach young children about the joy of cooking, but it builds family bonds too,” he added. “For Haverhill as a town, Kitchen Love is a brilliant setting for bringing the local community together and promoting healthy eating, cooking skills, reducing food waste and rediscovering the benefits of home cooking.”
NEFF’s Jo Eyers said the company was pleased to help launch the kitchen, which she hoped “will create a real spark and love of cooking”. B&Q said it was “thrilled” to donate the kitchen as part of the campaign.
Kitchen Love is part of Hubbub’s Food Savvy campaign seeking to reduce Suffolk food waste. Visit www.hubbub.org.uk/food-savvy for more information.
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