Youth Service cooks up a new course for young people during lockdown

A new course designed to inspire and teach young people how to cook during lockdown has been hailed a success.

The course, known as ‘Cook Slow, Learn Fast’, was thought up by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Youth Service to teach young people how to prepare and cook healthy meals for themselves and their families.

The 10 week course focuses on helping young people with different circumstances such as those who are carers for other family members, new parents or those have recently started living alone.

Each young person is supplied with a slow cooker, ingredients and a recipe card to enable them to take part in the course. Plus, to offer advice and to answer any questions, a member of the Youth Service team is on hand to support them digitally.

Councillor Peter Rees, cabinet member for education, skills and culture, said: “It is great to see that our Youth Service is finding ways to safely continue their work to support young people during lockdown.

“Learning fundamental skills such as cooking is key to ensuring young people are able to lead healthy lifestyles and improve their independent living skills.”

Since the course launched in November 2020, it has helped more than 40 young people to learn about the essentials of cooking a healthy meal.

Jim Harle, a project worker at Pobl Group who works with three of the young people living in supported accommodation taking part in the course, said: “This opportunity has meant that young people are able to work with the Youth Service to develop their independent living skills and confidence remotely and safely. 

“The Youth Service also offers additional support via phone and text, be this in relation to the activity or just a general wellbeing catch up.  I see this as such a valuable opportunity for our young people during lockdown because many services and agencies are closed off to them.”

A young mum taking part in the course said: “This is such a fantastic project, I have learned so much and the little one is trying so many new things that I would never normally make.”

To help deliver the course, the Youth Service has teamed up with Awel Y Mor Primary School to come up with the recipes and Filco Supermarket in Port Talbot for the supply of the ingredients.

All the recipes can be found on the Connectnptyouth app, which is available on download from Google Play Store or Apple Store, or by visiting www.connectnptyouth.co.uk .