Lottery gives gastro-grant

The Let's Get Cooking programme, in which the Royal Society of Health is collaborating with the School Food Trust and other bodies, has been awarded £20million by the Big Lottery Fund to establish a network of cookery clubs for young people and parents.

The money will fund a potential 5000 clubs to be set up from Autumn 2007. The project will ensure that the next generation do not suffer from the lack of cookery skills that is currently contributing to the UK's obesity crisis.

The scheme is lead by the School Food Trust in partnership with Prince's Trust, Business in the Community, Magic Outcomes, the Improvement Foundation, the British Nutrition Foundation, and the RSH.

This ambitious project will enable 1.1 million children, young people, their families, and the wider community to learn new cooking skills and eat 'good food that is good for you'.

An overwhelming demand for a programme of cooking clubs was revealed in a national consultation conducted by the RSH in support of the bid. A staggering 99% of all respondents stated there was a need for a cooking skills programme and nearly 90% of respondents were interested in getting involved. Download the executive summary and full report.

Brian Turner CBE, head chef at Brian Turner Mayfair at The Millennium Hotel and a regular on Ready Steady Cook, welcomed the new funding: "The number of stories about overweight and unhealthy children that have appeared in newspapers during the last few months show how badly this type of scheme is needed. I hope parents and kids get into the spirit of it and really make the most of this opportunity. Wouldn't it be wonderful if, in 10-15 years time, we had a generation of amateur chefs cooking great tasting, healthy food with their families."

RSH Senior Policy Officer Alison Gehring said: "The announcement of this funding is a very significant action in the fight against childhood obesity. The inability to cook a healthy meal is a barrier to good nutrition and good a healthy lifestyle, and England now has two generations of non-cooks. It's no wonder the obesity time bomb has continued to tick!

"The Society looks forward to continuing work with the Let's Get Cooking partners, and to further successes with the programme."

Schools and parents interested in setting up a Let's Get Cooking club should call 0800 089 5001, or log onto www.letsgetcooking.org.uk.

Media Contact

For comment or to arrange interviews please call:
Alison Gehring, Senior Policy Officer, 020 7630 0121 ext 218 or agehring@rsph.org

Notes to Editor

Let's Get Cooking is a partnership project between the School Food Trust, Prince's Trust, Business in the Community, Magic Outcomes, the Improvement Foundation, and the British Nutrition Foundation.

The Royal of Health is one of the largest and longest-established public health organisations in the UK. We were founded in 1876 to promote joined up thinking between health professionals and we are a networking organisation that cuts across traditional professional boundaries.

The Royal Society of Health (RSH) and the Royal Institute of Public Health (RIPH) will join to create a vibrant new body working to improve health in the UK and beyond. Subject to the approval of members, the Privy Council and the Charity Commission, the new 'Royal' will be launched in early 2008.

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