Kitchen expansion aims to benefit more youngsters

A teaching kitchen at a youth centre has been expanded through new funding with the aim of encouraging more youngsters to learn how to cook.

In the past 12 months, 239 young people have taken part in cooking activities at the The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton and the new cash enabled the kitchen space to double in size.

Staff at the centre said they taught young people practical skills including meal preparation and budgeting, while also building confidence and independence.

Isiss, 14, was among those who have learnt through the kitchen and said the cooking sessions gave people more confidence with food.

"Before I started coming to the cooking sessions, I wasn't very confident in the kitchen, but now I can make meals on my own, like lasagna and garlic bread, and help out at home," she said.

"It's really fun cooking with other people and trying recipes I wouldn't have tried before."

The Way opened in 2016 with a mission to replace services which were lost when more than 20 youth clubs in the city closed due to funding cuts and managers there said it had since seen more than 21,000 young people through its doors since then.

The funding for the expansion came through the council via the government.

Paul Snape, chief executive of The Way, said their kitchen was the one of the busiest and more popular spaces at the centre.

"This is about much more than a new kitchen. It is about creating opportunities that help young people thrive now and in the future," he added.

Warinder Juss MP, who will visit the centre on Thursday, said: "This new space will help young people build confidence and valuable life skills, while giving them the opportunity to discover new passions and potential career paths."

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