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Cooking up a treat for group

July 2010

A Worcester cookery group for people with learning disabilities has been given a healthy cash donation by the Worcester Round Table to help pay for new cooking equipment and ingredients meaning the group can continue running.

And to celebrate the £1,000 donation, the Worcester Cookery Group is holding a special barbeque on Monday 12th July for members. Members of the group are supported by Dimensions; a specialist support provider for people with learning disabilities and autism. The cookery group, which is run by Liza Pass and Nina Smith, was established two years ago to provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities to learn all about nutrition and how to cook.

Due to its popularity, the group soon expanded and now two sessions are held each week at the Salvation Army Hall, Ronkswood, attracting 16 people at each session.

Each week members of the cookery group take part in cookery activities and are able to take home with them the dish that they have cooked along with the following week's recipe card and a list of ingredients so they can source their ingredients from the local supermarkets making that a fun activity too. A website http://www.btinternet.com/~webcoach/cookerygroup has also been designed where members can check out recipes, events and vote on their favourite recipe.

Julie Duggan, Team Manager at Dimensions, said: "At Dimensions we support people to live the life they want and taking part in activities such as the Worcester Cookery Group is really important. The members really enjoy their weekly cookery sessions. They get a lot out of attending the group and that's why this donation is very gratefully received."

Dimensions, which supports more than 2,300 people across England and Wales, shapes its support services to meet the needs of each individual. In Worcester, Dimensions supports more than 90 people with learning disabilities and autism.

Liza Pass, who runs the weekly sessions, added: "It is with great thanks to the Worcester Round Table for this donation that will help us continue with our cookery group sessions for the foreseeable future. Myself and Nina really enjoy running the weekly cookery sessions which allows us both to organise weekly recipes cards and cookery ideas that are printed out and stored on a web site which is fully interactive and supportive which allows a recipe library to be collected. The sessions are practical and fun, whilst the recipes are tasty and easy to make."

Ends

For further information please contact:
Nicola Doughty, Communications Officer
Tel: 07789 003724
Email: nicola.doughty@dimensions-uk.org