“As our children’s centre has had to cut back on some of our universal offers, the courses that The Organic Cookery School programs have enabled us to continue to offer valuable courses for all parents. We have engaged new families through the Cooking for Baby weaning course. This has been very important as what’s available from health visitors is lacking in time and the opportunity to engage in some practical activities. The course also acts a chance for parents to meet other parents so reducing social isolation. Some of these parents have gone on to other cooking courses and into other courses offered by the centre.”

“We love working with The Organic Cookery School. They are well organised and our parents have really responded well to the tutors that have come out to us. They are not patronising or preachy and take the parents with them in the lessons. Approximately half of the families have gone onto other Family Learning and the classes are delivered in away so as not be intimidating to parents who may have had poor experiences in school themselves and for supportive groups to develop. Everything you offer is excellent.”

“I have really enjoyed the cook and eat and food explores courses with The Organic Cookery School. I wouldn’t normally try these things but I’m so glad I have and will definitely be back. The best part of the workshop was learning new things about our every day diets and how to change them. Fantastic easy recipes and meeting new people. I have learnt loads of new recipes. How to introduce new and healthy foods into my children’s diet and we have changed our daily diets and routines at home. My three year old understands we can’t have too much sugar in a day so we have to cut down on treats and fruit squash. I think the course has been fantastic! I have really enjoyed it and learnt so much.”

“We have run many courses with the Organic Cookery School which both parents and children enjoy. Cooking with Dad has without a doubt been one of the most successful family engagement projects we’ve been involved in. We have always found the courses and workshops to be delivered to an excellent standard and the teachers to be very friendly and approachable. The children gained in confidence and it helped our parents learn some much needed basic skills.”

“The Organic Cookery School are lovely to work with. From an organisational point of view, they communicated well with us, were flexible, and understood our requirements in terms of monitoring and measuring impact etc. From the families point of view, they provided an amazing service, were understanding of the realities of cooking for a family on a low budget, kept the families engaged, and provided thoroughly enjoyable, well planned sessions.

The courses have helped us to meet one of the criteria of our core purpose – child and family health and life chances. They also supports other areas such as parent self esteem, attachment between parent and child, family emotional well being, and budgeting.”