Dorset Charity Launches Cooking Campaign Amid Rising Child Food Insecurity
New figures reveal that 18,000 children in Dorset are now being adversely affected by the rising cost of food, prompting the healthy cooking charity the Friendly Food Club to launch a wide-reaching campaign called Get Dorset Cooking. Statistics published in March by The Food Foundation show that one in nine families across the UK—equating to 11,000 families in Dorset—are struggling to afford healthy, nutritious food.
Alarmingly, 53 percent of food-insecure households cut back on fruit, and 40 percent reduced vegetable consumption in February alone due to escalating prices. The Friendly Food Club works with thousands of children and adults annually, providing free sessions that empower individuals with the confidence and basic cooking skills needed to prepare healthy and affordable meals.
Addressing the Crisis of Food Insecurity
Liz Guilmant-Cush, CEO of the charity, explains the severity of the situation. "Rising food insecurity means that more families are struggling to put meals on their tables, with parents often skipping meals to allow their children to eat, or swapping fruit and veg for cheap, less healthy ultra-processed options," she states. "Some families are also being faced with the choice of whether they can afford to have food to eat or heat their homes. Pressures on household budgets are coming from all angles, particularly now with increases in fuel costs."
The Get Dorset Cooking campaign aims to highlight the joy and fun in cooking, as well as the benefits of saving money and involving the whole family. Over the coming months, the initiative will include:
- A live event to engage the community directly.
- Distribution of cook-at-home kits and free recipes to facilitate easy meal preparation.
- Attendance at food and community events across Dorset to raise awareness and encourage participation.
Expanding Community Impact Through Training
In addition to its extensive range of free community workshops, the Friendly Food Club will focus on training local community group leaders. This effort aims to enable them to run their own permanent, regular cooking sessions, thereby extending the campaign's reach and sustainability. Liz adds, "We will be placing specific focus on teenagers, recently bereaved older people, and those managing chronic health conditions who may lack the confidence to cook from scratch."
The ultimate goal is to reduce reliance on food banks by teaching families how to cook healthy, nutritious meals on a strict budget. Beyond cooking, the campaign also targets social isolation by creating spaces for companionship and social interaction, fostering a sense of community among participants.
Building Resilience Against Food Poverty
Cooking skills and nutritional knowledge are proven to help lift families out of food insecurity and build a buffer against sliding into food poverty. By developing better eating habits, saving money, and improving confidence, individuals can achieve greater food security. Liz emphasizes, "We hope people will get behind the campaign and be part of a positive movement positively affecting all our communities' health and wellbeing."
To gauge the experience of food insecurity and attitudes toward cooking, the Friendly Food Club is asking Dorset residents to respond to a quick and simple anonymous poll. This data will help tailor the campaign to meet local needs effectively.
