CARLISLE Youth Zone hosted a cooking event on Wednesday as it aims to raise awareness and educate young children on the types of meals that people can cook using ingredients from Carlisle Foodbank packages.
Youngsters worked alongside local businesses to create some delicious-looking meals.
Representatives from Mark Nield Wealth Management, David Allen IT, Warwick Mill Business Village, and Interfresh were kitted out alongside CYZ contestants in coloured aprons and comically large chef hats, before being split into four teams.
They were then challenged to create meals from staple food items such as bread, milk, and vegetables, as well as fresh produce which was provided by Interfresh.
Foodbanks provide emergency food parcels to people who are in a crisis, and recent statistics have suggested that more people are dependent on foodbanks than ever before in Britain.
Steph Humes, manager at Carlisle Foodbank, said: "We’re raising awareness for both Carlisle Youth Zone and Carlisle Foodbank.
"It's really important to give them ideas on what to cook from a typical food bag [and] to get the community behind us, we are very much in need of donations.
"It is great to have all these local businesses here today to raise awareness for us as well, with the hope that in the future, they might set up donation points to help the local children and the local community of Carlisle.
"At the minute, the best way to support is to just give food donations. If you can’t do that, just share whatever we put on social media. It’s about raising that extra awareness for the Carlisle people that we are helping.
"We are providing emergency food to about 1,000 people per month so it’s really important to get those donations in to keep us going.
"The kids here have done amazing so far today. We’re looking forward to some tasty dishes and seeing how creative they can be.”
Chloe Hogg of Fantails and Harrison Ward from The Fell Foodie were special guest judges and in the end, it was the green team, representing Interfresh, who won the plaudits after creating six nutritional meals, ranging from a chicken and mushroom dish to a classic cheesy beans-on-toast.
The green team celebrated their well-deserved win with high-fives but were gracious winners, and were quick to thank the judges and their fellow competitors with a round of formal handshakes.
Carlisle Foodbank is desperate for donations and they welcome tinned food items at their West Tower Street location on a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 12-3pm. Visit their website for a list of other donation points. carlislefoodbank.org.uk.
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