RESIDENTS developing their cookery skills at a social group have been helping people struggling with the cost of living crisis at the same time.

A group set up by the Moat Foundation with funding from Active Essex is helping a group of residents from Maldon learn vital cooking skills.

Budding chefs on a six-week cooking project at Fullbridge Church made a casserole which they then enjoyed with residents at the 'warm hub' in the church.

The warm hub is open for residents to enjoy free refreshments and a light lunch.

The Moat Foundation is working in partnership with the Kapow catering company. 

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Moat Foundation officer Nicky Plumb said: “It is a community project for people who can’t cook very well.

“Residents have signed up for the six-week project and at the end they get to keep all the utensils to use at home.

“Many who come along are isolated older men and women as well as some younger people.

“Ten participants made enough food for 26 people on Tuesday.

“Not only are they learning an important life skill, but they are also developing their social setting confidence.

“I secured some funding from Active Essex which made it all possible.

“We have 10 participants, both young and old at Fullbridge and five participants in Steeple.

“Each week they attend, materials and foods are provided and they all learn how to cook together.

“They cook healthy meals from scratch and this week we made food for the warm hub at Fullbridge Church.

“They fed 26 people yesterday in the warm hub for people struggling to afford food.

“We are hoping to get more funding to expand out to the rural areas of the district in the future.”

The sessions are free to attend and are held at Fullbridge Church on Tuesdays from 10am to 12noon, and on Tuesdays at Steeple Village Hall from 1pm to 3pm.

For more information and to register your interest for future sessions, contact Nicky at nicky.plumb@moat.co.uk.