FAMILY Fun Cooking Club is an exciting new community initiative to encourage families to cook together and help tackle food poverty.

The exciting new initiative aims to tackle holiday hunger in Devon and encourage families to cook and eat healthy meals together using food provided by local churches and community groups.

It is being run by the Church of England in Devon.

Schools and churches across the county are being encouraged to take part in the run-up to half-term.

A series of budget-friendly recipes have been devised by nutritionist Merenna Wilson on behalf of the Church of England in Devon. The chef and food writer Jack Monroe has also given approval for some of her recipes to be used.

Churches, schools and community organisations are being encouraged to prepare bags with specific ingredients and recipe cards for families to pop in and collect during the school holidays or at other times of the year.

Tatiana Wilson, Education Advisor for the Church of England in Devon, said: “Family Fun Cooking Club was the brain-child of the West Berry federation of schools in North Devon.

“They realised that some of their families were struggling to get enough food in the holidays.

“As a diocese we have been looking for ways in which we can support families in the holidays with food.

“We talked to foodbanks and schools and found out that some families aren’t going to foodbanks because that’s not ‘what they do’.

“Others can’t get to them because of the distance they have to travel and that’s preventing them from accessing food for their families.

“We are hoping Family Fun Cooking Club will enable all families, wherever they are in Devon, to access good ingredients to cook a family meal together.”

The recipes include: Baked porridge, Lentil Dhal, Hot Dog Spaghetti, Green Pasta Bake and Microwave Mug Cake.

Marenna said: “All the recipes have been developed using really basic ingredients which are readily available in shops and foodbanks.

“The nutritional content has also been worked out so there is a portion of fruit or veg in every recipe.

“They are all fun to make and are designed for children to muck in and get their hands dirty.

“It’s about the whole family coming together to cook together and then eat together.”

To download the recipe cards go to: https://exeter.anglican.org/resources/faith-action/family-fun-cooking-club/ or follow: #familyfuncookingclub .