The event, which was organised by Newark and Sherwood District Council in partnership with Newark College, Your Health Your Way and Morrisons, hopes to bring generations together while also helping the local students with their studies.
The College students made 33 delicious and healthy meals and delivered them to the residents of Bower Court themselves. The tasty meals included a spinach, sweet potato and lentil dahl and a couscous salad with a fresh lemon and honey dressing.
Some of the fresh ingredients used by students were donated by the District Councils’ Crop Drop initiative where allotment holders donate surplus fruit and vegetables to vulnerable families and school initiatives.
Additional food was kindly donated by Morrison’s supermarket and Brackenhurst Campus at Nottingham Trent University in Southwell.
The delicious dishes were also served up at Newark College, so learners could try them for themselves at no cost. Media student Joe Clark, said: “There’s lots of processed food out there in supermarkets that’s full of chemicals, so it’s nice to try something fresh and homemade.”
Catering student Chardonay Cull helped with making the meals. She said: “The experience has really helped me in thinking what I want to do in the future.
“It’s great to see the reaction of people when they taste my food, it really makes me happy.”
Councillor Timothy Wendels, Chairman of the Homes and Community Committee at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “This project benefits so many people and brings a smile to your face. Young students at Newark College have had a chance to work on their culinary skills and make food for a live audience, residents at Bower Court can taste some amazing food and engage with younger people, and allotment owners as part of our Crop Drop initiative can feel reassured that their produce goes to great causes such as this.
“I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to organise this initiative and its incredibly rewarding to see the positive outcomes of this project. I hope many more joint collaborations such as this continue in our local community.”
Penny Taylor, the Lead for Education and Training at Newark College was delighted with the outcome of the community project. She said: “This highlights the relevance of the curriculum offered at Newark College and the impact it can have in the local community. This was a great experience for the catering students to be involved in the planning, organising, cooking and delivery of the food, as it creates a real-life working experience for them.
“The students who ate the food were delighted to receive free food and this allowed us to explore with them the benefits of healthy eating and how this impacts health and wellbeing, as well as learning.”
Find out more about the catering courses at Newark College at the next virtual open day on Saturday 3rd July. Register to attend here:
