A group of Plympton teenagers are helping combat food waste in the heart of their community by setting up free cooking classes using surplus food, thanks to a partnership between the Co-op and Barnardo’s.
The £5 million partnership will support positive futures for 750,000 young people across the UK. Young carer Scarlet, 15, is one of a group of teenagers who helped co-design Plymouth Change Makers, a new Co-op and Barnardo’s service supporting young people to make positive changes. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of Co-op colleagues, members and customers, Take Away Tuesdays, is open to 10 to 25-year-olds at free drop-in sessions across the Plymouth area.
“A lot of young people are worried about food at the moment,”
said Scarlet.
“When we were designing this service, we spoke to over 100 other young people, and lots of them said that they didn’t get much food because of the cost-of-living crisis.”
Fifteen-year-old Lilli, who also helped co-design the project, added:
“There’s a lot of stigma around being poor and not being able to feed yourself, even when it’s not your fault. People get bullied for using food banks. It’s harsh, but it happens all the time.”
Research shows that a third of children in Plymouth are currently living below the breadline and, last year, the number of people using the city’s food banks tripled. DuringTake Away Tuesdays, young people can cook a nutritious meal from scratch using surplus food, which they can then take home to their families.
Carin Laird, a senior project worker based in Plymouth, said:
“We can’t look at the issues affecting young people in isolation. If children are going hungry, this will impact their concentration at school and have a knock-on-effect regarding future opportunities, and their wellbeing.
“Plymouth Change Makers hopes to remove some of these barriers from a safe space in the community that is open to any young person. Young people don’t need a referral to engage with our activities, and our dedicated project workers are here to offer vital wellbeing support and opportunities. By taking part, young people will be helping us maintain a healthier living environment and use ingredients that would otherwise go to landfill.”
Co-designer Kaiden, 15, said that the best thing about the sessions has been the ‘general kindness displayed in the kitchen.’ He added:
“A lot of young people don’t know how to cook, so if you can teach them that, then they’ve learned a life skill that will help them long term.”
Plymouth Change Makers is one of 20 services being delivered across the UK thanks to the partnership between Co-op and Barnardo’s, which has so far raised over £2.5million.
Dave Luckin, head of community partnerships, funding and impact at Co-op, said:
“We’ve partnered with Barnardo’s to raise £5 million to support 750,000 young people in communities across the UK, working directly with young people to identify the problems they face and co-create solutions.
“Our partnership services will support thousands of young people and we’re calling on all policy makers and businesses to put young people’s valuable perspectives right at the heart of their decision-making. Only through doing this can we create a fairer future for young people.”
Scarlet, who receives food bank vouchers, has ambitions to study Motorsport Engineering and one day work for a Formula One team. She credits Plymouth Change Makers with making it possible to focus on her GCSE exams this summer.
She said:
“Most food banks are only open during school hours, so it’s not practical for young people like me. At Take Away Tuesdays, I know I’m getting food that I can take home for my family, so I don’t have to rely on food banks as much.”
To find out more about Plymouth Change Makers, contact coopservices@barnardos.co.uk.
