In late 2023 a funded scheme was agreed with Warwickshire Rural Community Council, in partnership with Warwickshire County Council and Cadent, to run twelve four-week courses in slow cooking at warm hubs and community venues across the county. The courses included a qualified cooking instructor, who delivered the courses, supported by volunteers at the Winter Warm hubs, and free slow cookers and cooking ingredients issued as part of the course.
The sessions allow people to bring a prepared meal to taste which gives other attendees who have not met before the opportunity to engage over sharing food. The recipes enable the attendees to try new ideas or make mistakes in a safe space and discuss what to try differently next time. The sessions last for about an hour and a half each.
The scheme is a great way to promote cooking affordable, healthy food in the colder months. The project team have already started looking at more rural areas to deliver the courses to support with accessibility, and options to deliver the courses online alongside additional digital support such as how to do online food shopping.
The slow cooker courses will run through until April 2024.