Published on:
04
July 2014
A group of young parents have been the first participants from Clackmannanshire to gain a new Royal Environmental Health Institute Of Scotland qualification for their cooking skills.
A partnership initiative between Clackmannanshire Young Parents Project, Clackmannanshire Healthier Lives, Sauchie Active 8 and the Council's Youth Services team has seen the Mums complete an eight week course and will see them celebrating their achievements with an event at Sauchie Hall.
The Clackmannanshire Young Parents Project is designed to improve the life chances of young parents and their children by helping to ensure that their immediate needs are addressed and that appropriate services are available to them to maintain stability at a very vulnerable time in their lives. The project also helps them prepare for employment, education or training when the time is right for them.
The Elementary Cooking Skills course focused on increasing participants basic practical skills and food preparation while at the same time encouraging and empowering them to take up further training along with furthering their prospects of employment or further education.
They've also learned about the importance of food hygiene, budgeting and the significance of a balanced diet.
Partnership working has again central to the success of the project. The sessions have been led by Clackmannanshire Healthier Lives Community Food Development Worker Debbie Ross who along with Sauchie Active 8 and the Council's Youth Services Team have dramatically reduced the costs of delivering the course. Clackmannanshire Healthier Lives (CHL) is a community based health improvement project. which can offer support and advice to enable people to make changes that can improve health and well-being.
Kidzworld in Alloa and Flying Start Nursery in Sauchie were also important partners in the project, helping to make the course possible for the parents.
Course participant Shanice Malcolm said: "I've really enjoyed the course, and at the same time I've met new people, learned new things and got a recognised qualification as well. The course has also shown me where to save money and has boosted my confidence and self esteem".
Provost Tina Murphy said: "Congratulations to the young parents who have put in the considerable effort required to complete this very practical course. The elements of the course will be useful to them not only in their home lives, but will also hopefully help them to take steps towards further training and employment in the future."
Clackmannanshire Young Parents Project is supported by European Social Fund Priority 5 Funding.