Posted on: Friday 24 June 2022
A day of cookery demonstrations will be held next month using items in food parcels.
It's just one of a series of events being organised by Torfaen Council's Food4Growth project, which aims to increase the availability of local sustainable food and find long-term solutions to food poverty.
A food court - complete with demonstration kitchen - is going to be created inside Pontypool Indoor Market to host a two-week programme of free workshops, drop in sessions and cookery demonstrations, which start on Monday 27 June.
Nikki Williams, Torfaen Council's Rural Development Programme Manager, who is helping to arrange the event, said: "Food parcels, like those distributed by Louise and Judy at Eastern Valley Food Bank, are an important lifeline for people who are in crisis.
"But we want to do more to help residents in the long term. Learning new recipes and cookery techniques using the food included in the parcels is a great way of making the parcels go further and for the future.
"There will also be events for parents preparing to wean their children and an opportunity for local community groups who get together for an afternoon tea event.
"There is a programme of activities for small food businesses as well, such as drop in clinics with information about how to apply for grants and tips on diversifying and growing their businesses.
"These pilot events will help us understand exactly what help and support residents, community groups and businesses would like going forward."
The food parcels cookery session will be held on Thursday 7 July.
Community food court activities:
* Weaning and toddler food, Thursday 30 June 10.30am
* Community group afternoon tea, Thursday 30 June 1.30pm
* Mindfulness and wellbeing, Saturday 2 July, 1.30pm, and Wednesday 6 July, 1.30pm
* Home baking demonstration, Thursday 7 July, 10.30am
* Bees and honey, Friday 8 July, 10.30am
Business food court activities:
* Labelling and allergens advice, Monday 27 June, 2.30pm
* Marketing advice, Wednesday 29 June, 10.30am
* Business drop-in clinic, Friday 1 July, 10.30am
* Digital marketing, Friday 1 July, 2.30pm
* Mindfulness and wellbeing in the workplace, Saturday 2 July, 10.30am
The food court activities will be run by BIC Innovation as part of the Food4Growth programme, which is funded by the UK Government's Community Renewal Fund.
You can find information about individual events on Connect Torfaen or by following @PontypoolIndoorMarket and @torfaencouncil on social media.
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