Connecting with local Berkshire charities has been a real “silver lining” for Fink during the Covid crisis. The launch of our delivery service was a catalyst for meeting likeminded people in the area. It’s allowed us to build new relationships with organisations who share our mental health vision.
One amazing charity we have chosen to partner with is Young People and Children First. YPACF gives a home to young people (aged 16-25) who are leaving care or who are homeless. They currently have two houses in West Berkshire; Cornerstone and Rebecca House. Their young residents are provided with personalised support in a family environment, helping them to develop life skills such as cooking on a budget and money management, as well as recreational activities with other residents and support getting into education, training or work.
Last week, James and Lewis delivered an outdoor street-food inspired cooking classes to the residents. Learning new skills, trying something new and meeting new people are key steps you can take to bettering mental wellbeing which is why we thought these sessions may go down well with these amazing young people.
The residents were really engaged in learning about how to cook healthy dishes, without sacrificing flavour or breaking the budget. We guided the guys through a range of skills including basic knife skills, budgeting and healthy ingredient swaps.
On the menu for the session were fiery chicken and cauliflower tacos, with charred corn slaw, lime mayo and Mexican slaw. We wanted to choose a menu offer that the residents could easily replicate at home. Check out the pictures below to see how they turned out!
One of the residents is also a very talented baker. She made some seriously impressive vegan and courgette brownies. They had the perfect brownie "squidge" and what's better is that the courgettes were grown in the resident's garden.
This was one of the best days at Fink so far and we can't wait for our next session!