Community Cookit

Community Cookit is a community health initiative delivered in partnership with NHS Tayside, Dundee City Council Communities Health Team and Perth & Kinross Council.  A wide variety of staff from local authority teams including education and housing along with staff from a number of third sector organisations have undertaken training and deliver the Community Cookit Programme locally.

The initiative uses the "Train the Trainer" model, whereby the training is centred on the use of the C.A.N. (Cheap and Nutritious) Cookit Resource, which comprises of a selection of recipes, posters and nutrition-related activities.  The resource was originally developed by NHS Ayrshire & Arran, and has since been further developed by NHS Tayside's Nutrition and Dietetic Service.

Once trained, individuals become Cookit Coaches.  They are provided with a basic level of nutritional knowledge and how to use the C.A.N. Cookit Resource to deliver food skills work with their local community or client group.

The coach training includes gaining both the REHIS Food and Health and the Elementary Food Hygiene Certificate followed by 2 days of Community Cookit Coach training.  As a package this provides valuable, up to date information on family meals, nutritional requirements and how to get key nutrition messages transformed into practical advice.  Some comments from Cookit Coach training:

• 'Loved the activity practice'
• 'Really enjoyed this training, learnt lots of new skills and hopefully can relate this knowledge to the community'
• 'Great atmosphere and good to work with a variety of people'

Angus or Dundee: veronica.patullo@nhs.scot 01382 424091

Perth & Kinross: rachel.macfarlane@nhs.scot 01738 473507

Food networks run quarterly throughout the year in both Dundee and Perth & Kinross.  They give Community Cookit Coaches the opportunity to:

• meet others delivering food related work in Dundee and Perth & Kinross
• share and learn from others delivering similar work
• generate potential partnership working
• learn about new resources

For more information on Food Networks please contact rachel.macfarlane@nhs.scot