Free slow cooker recipe book for Swindon people

Volunteers in Swindon have cooked up a special new recipe book to help residents through the cost of living crisis.

With the support of the National Literacy Trust, Swindon Borough Council’s Live Well team and Adult Community Learning team, the volunteers, together with Swindon Town Community Foundation, have combined their favourite slow cooker recipes into one cookbook, to help people in the community make cost-efficient, healthy, and tasty meals.

Slow cookers are a good way to cook nutritious meals without using as much energy as an oven.

Called Swindon Recommends: Recipes for slow cooker, the new cookbook includes recipes such as marinara sauce, paella, salmon kedgeree, sausage casserole and chicken curry.

Copies of the book, along with a number of slow cookers, were recently handed out at a Stay and Play session at Mountford Manor Primary School to 10 families.

Catherine, one of the parents who received a slow cooker and book, said: “I’d thought about buying a slow cooker, but did not feel confident on what to cook. The book has now given me ideas of what I can make.”

A copy of the recipe book, published by the National Literacy Trust, can be found at literacytrust.org.uk by searching ‘Slow Cookers’.

Physical copies are also available to pick up for free at the Parks Library and Central Library.

Since last summer, the council has given out 426 slow cookers, 85 health grills and 24 kettles to local families in need to help them benefit from low-energy and efficient ways to cook. The cookers, grills and kettles were bought using a portion of the Household Support Fund, which is money given to the council by the Government to help households with the cost of food, energy and wider essentials.

Cllr Jim Grant, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Joint Working, said: “The cookbooks and slow cookers go hand in hand to give Swindon residents the confidence and ability to cook healthier meals at a reduced cost.

“They have made a great difference to hundreds of local families in Swindon and the scheme really accords with our council mission to Reduce Inequality. I look forward to seeing the initiative continue to go from strength to strength.”

Anish Harrison, Hub Manager for the National Literacy Trust in Swindon, said: “Embedding literacy in day-to-day activities supports children’s language and communication skills in fun and accessible ways.

"Everyday tasks such as cooking are great opportunities to encourage your child to read, understand new words, practise following instructions and chat.

“That’s why we partnered with Swindon Borough Council and the libraries service to create this cookbook, combining nutritious and cost-effective meal planning with top tips on how cooking with your child equips them with vital life skills.

"We know that being able to read and write changes everything. It means you’ll do better at school and can get a better job when you leave.”

The council’s Adult Community Learning team have been offering free courses to families provided with a slow cooker, and other residents looking to gain confidence in the kitchen.

In the last year, more than 500 people have enrolled on 850 of the Council’s free Adult Community Learning courses.

Information on adult cookery and wellbeing courses, along with other skills, can be found at: www.swindon.gov.uk/adultlearning