The partnership between Cadent, UK Power Networks and UKHarvest aims to reach up to 20,000 pupils and their families in 70 schools across East England. This project will help people eat well for less and reduce the cost of cooking by exploring fuel-efficient methods, introducing new technologies and revisiting some traditional fundamentals.
The new partnership will help families affected or at risk of food and energy poverty.
Food and Fuel supports the financial and physical well-being of young students and their families, offering workshops, classes, web-based gatherings and online cook-alongs. The program also gives families ingredients and an innovative opportunity to borrow slow cookers and air fryers from school libraries.
The project supports UKHarvest’s wider environmental and community mission to help people out of food insecurity and end food waste across the UK. The charity also provides education across the country and is home to an award-winning community food hub in London.
Recent figures from the Food Foundation show that one in four households with children cannot afford the healthy meals they need for their families. With high inflation in food and energy costs, households are looking for ways to reduce spending. Even if a food bank or pantry can provide free or inexpensive food packages, meal preparation still costs money.
Yvonne Thomson, CEO of UKHarvest, says: “It is heartbreaking to see how so many people have been affected by the cost of living crisis. Every day we meet families who have to decide whether they want to pay for heating or food themselves. We created this project to immediately relieve the pressure on those most in need and allow everyone to prepare healthy food at an affordable price. This adds to the value of the support we already provide directly to charities and individuals through our food rescue and redistribution service, community centers and by helping people cook well for less and get the most out of their food.”
Ian Cameron, Director of Customer Service and Innovation at UK Power Networks, said: “Our customers face unprecedented challenges, which is why we have expanded our support for energy poverty over the last year, working with more partners than ever before to bring hands-on support to more customers offer . We are delighted to be working with UKHarvest and Cadent to support more families who are struggling the most this winter.”
Phil Burrows, Head of Customer Vulnerability Social Program Delivery, said, “Cadent is committed to supporting families living in fuel poverty. Each week, many families make a difficult choice between heating their homes and feeding their families. This project will support many of the families in our networks to alleviate some of the challenges they are currently facing by providing help and guidance on how to cook nutritious, healthy and affordable meals that will feed their families.”
