Food Hygiene Training proves Popular in Whitefield

Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 12 March 2008

A 5 week combined Food Hygiene and Cookery Course on Victoria Estate has proved a great success with full booking across the board. 

Organised by Victoria Tenants amp; Residents Association and held at Whitefield Primary School, the course is funded by a pound;900 grant from Whitefield amp; Unsworth Local Area Partnership.

Each session includes the complete preparation of a dish from raw ingredients to presentation. The menu has included a variety of popular dishes, easy and tasty with an international flavour, spaghetti bolognaise, kofta meat balls, chicken chow mien, and paella.

The cookery is followed by a theory session on food hygiene. The course is accredited by the Institute of Environmental Health Officers. Students who successfully complete the course and pass an exam will receive a nationally recognised certificate.

The tutor, John Cockcroft from Prestwich Food Hygiene Training explains: quot;A Food Hygiene Certificate or equivalent qualification is essential for anyone who wants to work in catering, school meals, restaurants, food preparation and production or even as a volunteer preparing refreshments.. So this is a good opportunity to get a qualification to gain employment. The sessions have been intensive but I am delighted that all the students have stuck the course and I am confidant that they will all pass the exam"

The course was a follow-up to the TRA's Healthy Eating Project and is designed to offer routes into employment..

Alan Bigwood, Chair of Victoria TRA said, quot;The course has worked really well. Parents of pre-school children have been able to take part because Besses Children Centre has provided a crèche and Whitefield Primary School have allowed us to use the school at no cost. We are planning the repeat the course after Easter because of demand"

Cllr Bernie Vincent, LAP Chairperson said: quot;The Local Area Partnership was very impressed with the Healthy Eating Project and was pleased to support the next phase of the project. It will provide a qualification which is very useful and would certainly be useful for local residents in applying for jobs at the new Morrisons Store when it opens later this year".