Windsor Food Academy: giving young and old a chance to excel

The next two Windsor Food Academy’s have been announced, offering teens, young mums and older community members a chance to excel, together. Find out how to join in.


Jeffrey Pick from TVP – © below

For three hours per week, over 8 weeks, you could have fun and transform lives

I recently wrote two blogs about the amazing scheme called the Windsor Food Academy.

Head Honcho, Jeffrey Pick, recently announced further iterations of the scheme in the coming year, with participants to target teens again and, some events also looking to strengthen young mums, from both the Army locally and the neighbouring Dedworth community.

For three hours per week, over 8 weeks, you could have fun and transform lives

Find out more about the scheme, how YOU can volunteer (both Individuals and Organisations) and, how to refer potential participants.

Let’s start with a short recap.

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More on how “Individuals and Organisations can volunteer” in yellow box below

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Each course runs for between 8 and 10 weeks, for three hours per week so, short but very sweet.

Food Academy Crew Chilling Out – © below

What is the Windsor Food Academy?

The “Food Academy” has been set up in Windsor to support children’s personal, social and emotional development by giving them opportunities to develop their self-confidence and self-awareness.

Each course runs for between 8 and 10 week, for three hours per week so, short but very sweet.

Supported, funded and initiated by Thames Valley Police, The Army Covenant and RBWM, the programme consists of a number of 8 week cooking programmes throughout the year which culminate in a Community Banquet.

The Food Academy should provide a forum for learning and development, with students coming from diverse communities and will include those vulnerable to crime or social exclusion.

The first Food Academy included 12 young people aged between 13 – 15 half from ‘army families’ and half, from families in West Windsor with the aim of helping and supporting ‘underperforming’ students, or young people who would benefit, from a boost to their self-esteem.

 

What does TVP’s Chief Inspector and participants say about the scheme

Here’s what TVP Chief Constable, Francis Habgood, and some of the participants have to say about the programme.

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More on how “Individuals and Organisations can volunteer” in yellow box below

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This has given her the most confidence and finally, she has her head screwed on and knows where and what, she wants to do in her life

Windsor Food Academy Feb 2018 © below

Transforming people’s lives: The last word

The best comment and, the last word has to go to a proud parent who once anguished about her child but now no more. Transformation complete.

I wanted to thank you and your team, of kind and lovely people, for making Alexa (not her real name) feel so welcome in every part of the Food Academy.

She had such an amazing time and has grown every week with confidence, in fact I’d like to say a huge thank you, as since starting Food Academy, she has been awarded four certificates at school for various things, including a food award!

This has given her the most confidence and finally, she has her head screwed on and knows where and what, she wants to do in her life.”

 

The next Food Academy will start on 18 April 2018 and over 6 weeks

Training in progress – © below

The next Windsor Food Academy

The next Food Academy will start on 18 April 2018 and over 6 weeks.

Aimed at teens again, participants will learn how to cook exotic dishes ending with a Banquet on 9 may 2018 with a venue likely to be at the Guildhall, Windsor or, the Officer’s Mess at the Coldstream Guards Victoria Barracks.

Dishes participants will learn to cook include

  • Army Teamwork – © below

    Calzone Minestrone soup Spaghetti Bolognese

  • Chicken & vegetable fricassee
  • Chicken & Chorizo Jambalaya
  • Cornish Pasty & Pizza
  • Chicken Tikka Masala & Chota Naan Bread
  • Swedish meatballs with rice
  • Scrambled / poached eggs & omelets
  • Chicken Chow mein with egg noodles
  • Trawler Fishcakes and tartare sauce

 

The Third course planned for September, will be for young mums 

The sumptuous desert – © below

Future Windsor Food Academy courses in 2018

The Third course planned for September, will be for young mums from the Broom Farm Estate and from Sawyers Close and other areas in the Windsor Community.

The banquet for this Course will be held in the Windsor Race Course

 

Each course runs for between 8 and 10 week so, short but very sweet

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How you can take part next time; volunteers or teens

If you are new to the project, or know someone / organisation that could make a student referral, please pass on the attached flyers. Jeffrey Pick and his team want agency participation – to spread the word – so is happy for you to come along to one of the sessions – simply complete the attached session form and return it to him.

Each course runs for between 8 and 10 week so, short but very sweet.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: download a flyer here (click here to download a flyer)

TO REFER SOMEONE 2018 NEW FORM: download student referral form (click here to download a student referral form)

TO JOIN IN, or for more information, email Jeffrey Pick at Jeffrey.Pick@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

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I hope you found this post useful.

Watch out for further, and other informative posts to empower and enrich people’s lives here at www.wwra.org.uk

 

Accountably yours,

Wisdom

WWRA Councillor, Wisdom Da Costa, Clewer North, Windsor

 

Credits

Photo & © Eva Zielinska-Millar from www.mikenormanphotography.co.uk, Thames Valley Police and others

 

Caveat

This post is part of Cllr Wisdom Da Costa’s regular series of Blogs to inform and empower local residents; as he promised in his election leaflet

The views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of the West Windsor Residents Association (WWRA)