Partners cook up idea to slow energy use
A COURSE which will also see participants receive a free slow cooker is being offered as a boost to families who are struggling with the high cost of electricity.
Accrington-based training provider North Lancs Training Group (NLTG) have teamed up with the Hyndburn Food Pantry to offer the free five-week slow cooker lessons.
The first course will get under way on Tuesday, May 17 at NLTG’s Old Bakery Centre on Grange Lane in Accrington.
Sessions, which will be run by NLTG staff and will include information, cooking lessons and tasters, will last two hours at a time, starting at 10am.
The first class will focus on nutrition and healthy cooking, as well as the savings that can be made using a slow cooker compared to the pre-paid electric cost of using an oven.
Research has shown that slow cookers when left on all day use less electricity than conventional lightbulbs, using between 1.2-1.7 kWh of electricity to cook a meal for eight hours - at a cost of 32p - while in comparison, a standard oven will use 2.4 kWh per hour on average.
From week two, anyone taking part in the course will also receive a voucher which can be used at The Food Pantry on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday to collect ingredients to then make a meal at home using knowledge of what they have learned and their brand new slow cooker.
Ingredients will be stocked weekly as per the sessions.
Stacy Walsh, organiser at Hyndburn Food Pantry, said: “We can’t thank North Lancs Training Group enough for hosting and running this course with us.
“While the sessions are limited to 20 people, we do intend to run them on a more regular basis.
“All the classes and the ingredients are to be provided free of charge and each session will also be videoed and posted online at www.nltg.co.uk in case anyone wants a refresher.”
Carl Morris, JCP Provision Manager at NLTG, said: “This is another fantastic development in our relationship with the Hyndburn Food Pantry. Stacy and her team do an amazing job at The Food Pantry and we are delighted to support them in their great work.
“Everyone knows about the issues being faced on electricity costs and we hope this course will help make a big difference to people in our local community.”
● TO learn more about the course and to get your booking form, email hyndburnfoodbank@aol. com.