Aims/priorities:
Thanks to funding from Rochdale Borough Council Public Health Team, Action Together is offering micro grants of up to £1000 for groups to get involved with The Big Pan Community Cooking programme.
Evidence shows that people are more likely to try new foods and make changes to their diets if they cook the dishes for themselves. Cooking together and sharing what is made is good for people’s mental and physical health and combats loneliness, social isolation, and is an enjoyable experience for most.
During the winter of 2022, it was anticipated that many people would be experiencing fuel poverty meaning they were unable to heat their homes and/or cook hot meals for their families. These were also the families who were more likely to have poor health, and who would benefit from a place of warmth, a nutritious hot meal, and develop their cooking skills to enable them to prepare meals at home.
The Big Pan model has been running successfully for 12 months in four Rochdale community hubs presenting the opportunity to cooperatively test and learn the model and develop resources. We’ve seen great results including 99% of participants saying they were going to make the meal again at home for their families, as well as lots of positive, case studies where it’s brought communities together, created self-confidence in food preparation and encouraged attendees to try to new foods.
As part of the project, we expect all groups successful in receiving funding to:
- To complete a Big Pan cooking champion training session
- To have access to a venue which meets the needs of the programme and is accessible to the local residents.
- To deliver at least two 6 week Big Pan programmes in their community venue
- To deliver sessions where the participants are involved and cook their own food whilst following the demonstration
- To encourage residents to come together through food
- To provide a hot, nutritious, low cost meal to families
- To use food pantries/clubs to enhance the use of food provided
- To give families a safe, warm space for the duration of the session
- To provide a social environment for people to eat a meal together
- To reduce health inequalities through teaching independence through cooking skills
- Gather feedback from participants for evaluation purposes
- To identify other volunteers who may want to run additional sessions
- To attend the good help training and offer informal good help conversations
Who can apply:
- you are a voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) group locally rooted or actively working in the borough of Rochdale; and
- you are a member of Action Together CIO (you can register for free to become a member here)
- you are formally constituted.
- you have access to a community venue which meets the needs of the programme and is accessible to the local residents.
Grant amount: Grants of up to £1,000 are available
Deadline: This fund will be open until all funds have been allocated.
Application process:
Guidance Notes - please ensure you read the Guidance Notes thoroughly before completing an application form.
Please send your completed application form to: hayley.tomlinson@actiontogether.org.uk
Contact information:
For more information, please either call 0161 339 2345 and ask for Hayley Tomlinson or please email: hayley.tomlinson@actiontogether.org.uk