Free cooking sessions to teach King's Lynn locals how to cook on a budget

Authorities hope it will help people amidst the cost of living crisis

Author: Sian RochePublished 11th Jan 2023

Free sessions to help people in King's Lynn develop their cooking skills and teach them how to keep food costs down are being brought back later this month, as the cost of living crisis continues.

They're being run by the Borough Council of King's Lynn ad West Norfolk, with funding from the area's Health and Wellbeing Partnershop.

There will be 12 weekly sessions starting on the 18th January at the London Road Methodist Church.

Cllr Sam Sandell, Cabinet member for people and communities at the borough council, said: “Following 25 weeks of successful sessions held in North and South Lynn last year it’s good to see them return in 2023 to a new venue close to the town centre.

“The increasing cost of living continues to affect us all, these free-to-attend sessions mean that people can drop-in to them and pick up some saving tips about how to cook healthy and tasty food without breaking the bank.

"The sessions are also family-friendly, sociable and you get to taste food cooked by a professional chef.”

Alex Harrison, Chef and Catering Lecturer at the College of West Anglia, will be hosting the sessions: “Before Christmas at our last session in North Lynn we cooked Christmas lunch for 13 people and the cost was roughly £30, this was then calculated between the 13 and the cost per person was £2.30 for their dinner. The attendees were keen to see how to cook the meal and learn some handy Christmas tips.

"Topics this year include sharing tips on how to prepare meals on a budget, nutritional content, batch cooking, low cost desserts and low calorie cooking amongst others. Our last session in April will be about saving money over Easter.

“I’ve really seen a difference in our previous attendees – they want to help and get involved. Before, people were hesitant about joining in but by the end they were completely different, more involved, more engaged and asking questions. They have blossomed and it’s great to see.

"Now I want them to go home and cook!"

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