Published: Thursday, 12th May 2016
Cannock Chase Council‘s Food and Safety Team successfully design and deliver safe food preparation courses to community groups in the District.
The pilot courses which took place at Trinity Church in Hednesford, were attended by volunteers from Friends of Hednesford Park and the Food Bank.
The 42 participants were shown, through fun activities and demonstrations, the importance of where to store raw foods in the fridge, food hygiene in the kitchen; particularly when and how to wash hands, two step cleaning and the difference between use by dates and best before dates. The course ended on a high with a cooked lunch which the group had prepared.
Councillor Muriel Davis, Portfolio Leader for Health & Wellbeing Portfolio Leader said “The safe and healthy food preparation courses were an overwhelming success. Our officers were on hand to give support and advice to those attending and the course ended with all participants receiving a certificate and eating the lovely meal they had prepared.”
The course was put together in collaboration with the Friends of Hednesford Park. It was a practical and fun way to involve volunteers, many of whom are vulnerable and isolated, build their confidence and enable them to use new skills at home and in a work environment.
Andy Williams from The Friends of Hednesford Park commented “The course was an entertaining but fun way of remembering essential safety facts about delivering food to ourselves and other people.
It enabled a wide range of adults and young people to learn essential life skills in a friendly non-threatening environment that involved all sectors of the community”.