A Surrey school has won a special award for its contribution towards reducing health inequalities and bringing local communities together by teaching people how to cook
Wandle Valley School, a school for pupils with special educational and behavioural needs, has been singled out for praise after launching a new Let's Get Cooking club for children using money raised by HealthFreedom through The Health Lottery.
The club has been awarded a Golden Spoon gong from Let's Get Cooking after using cooking to bring pupils closer to members of their local community and for giving them a valuable opportunity to learn a life sill while building their social skills and confidence.
Teacher, Jane Pini, who helps run the Let's Get Cooking club, said: "Our pupils can get very anxious in new situations and can struggle to communicate, but joining Let's Get Cooking has made a huge difference.
"They are full of confidence and their social skills are better than ever.
"During a school event, the club got up on the stage in front of lots of people they didn't know and did a cooking demonstration.
"Members of the audience joined in the cooking too and saw a completely different side to our pupils.
"It was amazing for them to see what we see in our young people."
Maggie Sims senior manager at Let's Get Cooking, the country's largest network of healthy cooking clubs, said: "Using food and cooking is a natural way to bring people together.
"With Wandle Valley School, we've seen first-hand how it can help people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, build relationships and make new friends.
"Learning how to cook a nutritious meal from scratch and on a budget, can make such a difference to people's health, and it's so much more fun when you can do it alongside others."
Wandle Valley School attended the national ceremony in London where special prizes for the overall Golden Spoon winners were presented by keen cook and teaching champion Kate Bellingham, best known for hosting Tomorrow's World and Children's ITV programme, the Big Bang.
Wandle Valley School, a school for pupils with special educational and behavioural needs, has been singled out for praise after launching a new Let's Get Cooking club for children using money raised by HealthFreedom through The Health Lottery.
The club has been awarded a Golden Spoon gong from Let's Get Cooking after using cooking to bring pupils closer to members of their local community and for giving them a valuable opportunity to learn a life sill while building their social skills and confidence.
Teacher, Jane Pini, who helps run the Let's Get Cooking club, said: "Our pupils can get very anxious in new situations and can struggle to communicate, but joining Let's Get Cooking has made a huge difference.
"They are full of confidence and their social skills are better than ever.
"During a school event, the club got up on the stage in front of lots of people they didn't know and did a cooking demonstration.
"Members of the audience joined in the cooking too and saw a completely different side to our pupils.
"It was amazing for them to see what we see in our young people."
Maggie Sims senior manager at Let's Get Cooking, the country's largest network of healthy cooking clubs, said: "Using food and cooking is a natural way to bring people together.
"With Wandle Valley School, we've seen first-hand how it can help people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, build relationships and make new friends.
"Learning how to cook a nutritious meal from scratch and on a budget, can make such a difference to people's health, and it's so much more fun when you can do it alongside others."
Wandle Valley School attended the national ceremony in London where special prizes for the overall Golden Spoon winners were presented by keen cook and teaching champion Kate Bellingham, best known for hosting Tomorrow's World and Children's ITV programme, the Big Bang.