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Healthy communities: It’s your business

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1. What is Let’s Get Cooking all about? Foreword by Stephen Howard

What is Let’s Get Cooking?

Who benefits from Let’s Get Cooking?

2. Get cookingHow does Let’s Get Cooking work?

How can my company get involved?

Menu of Opportunities

3. Get recognised and rewardedWhat are the benefits to my company and staff?

How do we communicate and report on our activity?

4. Frequently asked questions

5. Links and resources

Contents

2 | Business in the Community | Healthy Communities: It’s your business

Every day, we read about the long term negative impact that poor nutrition and obesity is having on the health of the nation.

The cost to business of poor health in the community is well documented. According to the Department of Health, cardiovascular disease costs £8.4 billion in lost productivity – and this is but one of many frightening statistics.

The causes of this nation-wide health epidemic are varied and complex, but there is something businesses can do to help young people, their families and communities to understand the importance of a good diet, the fun of cooking and the joy of eating together.

Why is this important? The impact of not addressing obesity and poor nutrition is significant. In addition to the consequences for each individual’s health and well-being, there is a significant cost to society.

Public health and the role of business to tackle malnutrition and obesity is increasingly the focus of the media. Businesses are coming under increasing pressure from customers and the government to play a role in fighting health inequalities in the UK, and around the world.

How can business help? Business in the Community is a membership organisation that mobilises business for good. Many of our member companies are actively engaged in the promotion of health in our communities, such as initiatives on nutritional labelling and reformulating products.

Business in the Community’s Plough to Plate report also identifies a lack of basic knowledge on food and cooking skills in many communities, which prevent wise choices about nutrition and health.

I am proud that Business in the Community is working in partnership with The School Food Trust on the Let’s Get Cooking programme, which is an ambitious scheme to launch 5,000 after school cooking clubs across England. These clubs will teach young children and their families - particularly those in deprived communities - practical cooking skills.

Affecting change for our nation’s health is a huge challenge for business and does not rest with the food and drink sector alone. This useful guide outlines how your employees and your organisation can play an integral role in addressing one of the most pressing problems facing the country.

Stephen Howard Chief Executive Business in the Community

Foreword

What is Let’s Get Cooking all about?

Business in the Community | Healthy Communities: It’s your business | 3

Let’s Get Cooking is a project focused on the establishment of a national network of 5,000 school-based cooking clubs in England. The aim of Let’s Get Cooking is to develop skills and knowledge for children, their parents and local communities on how to eat healthily. Working closely with schools, the government and business, Let’s Get Cooking focuses on reaching the most disadvantaged communities.

Let’s Get Cooking’s objectives are to teach over 1 million children new cooking skills, with the aim that these skills will be replicated at home with their families and within the wider community to increase their understanding of a nutritionally balanced diet and how to prepare and eat healthy food.

The National Lottery funds the first 5,000 Let’s Get Cooking clubs, which are managed by The School Food Trust. Other partners supporting the project are The Prince’s Trust, Magic Outcomes, The British Nutrition Foundation and The Royal Society for Public Health.

Business can work in partnership with Let’s Get Cooking Clubs to achieve long-term sustainability and help to achieve the overall aims of Let’s Get Cooking.

What is Let’s Get Cooking?

“The quality of school food has improved and is much healthier, but that is only a part of what a child eats everyday. Let’s Get Cooking gives people valuable life skills and empowers people to make healthier choices.“Judy Hardagon, Chief Executive The School Food Trust.


According to the House of Commons Health Select Committee, the cost of obesity in England is between £3.3 and £3.7 billion per year. The cost of obesity plus overweight is estimated between £6.6 and £7.4 billion per year.


Business Employee volunteering is a powerful vehicle for businesses to engage their staff, develop their skills and focus on issues that have an impact in their communities.

According to Research International, employees who are actively involved within community activities are 36% more likely to recommend their employer to friends or family. The benefit for business – and their employees of participating in Let’s Get Cooking is to learn for themselves about healthy eating and nutrition, and to share this knowledge with their families.

Let’s Get Cooking also provides business with a unique opportunity to engage and work collaboratively with their supply chain and business partners. Through Let’s Get Cooking, companies can raise their profile and discover a network of new potential customers.

Children and young people The project will primarily benefit children and young people between the ages of five and 18. They will be given the opportunity to learn new cooking skills and build their understanding and knowledge of food and nutrition, and make informed choices about their health and wellbeing. Through the programme we hope that children and young people also develop new interests that will increase their self esteem and give something back to their families and local communities.

Communities A lack of investment in resource, expertise, time and skills in disadvantaged communities are just some of the factors that lead to disaffected and isolated groups, particularly in multi-cultural communities. The programme makes a valuable contribution to public knowledge and understanding on health and nutrition and equips people to make positive changes in their lives.

Who benefits from Let’s Get Cooking?

Premature deaths among obese employees costs companies £1.1 billion a year and a further £1.45 billion due to 18 million days of sick leave.

Obesity: third report of session 2003-04, London, The Stationery Office.



Let’s Get Cooking will establish 5,000 after school cooking clubs over the next five years across England. Of these, 85% will be established in primary schools and 15% in secondary schools. The clubs are extra curricular and rely on volunteers including parents, teachers and business employees.

Getting Cooking Let’s Get Cooking consults with local health authorities and education partnerships to select the areas in which Let’s Get Cooking establishes its clubs. Priority is given to schools in areas of deprivation and schools in greatest need are invited to apply online to set up a club.

Two club volunteers from each school’s club receive three days of training on teaching cooking skills and managing related activities. The training is delivered by regional Let’s Get Cooking staff.

Let’s Get Cooking clubs receive funding for the first three years to help with set up and operating costs.

The clubs receive a start-up pack which includes activity ideas, recipes, wall charts, equipment lists and suggestions for community events for each school term. Additional resources are available on the website www.letsgetcooking.org.uk

Let’s Get Cooking clubs are required to run 12 cooking sessions and three wider community events each year.

The clubs are supported and monitored by Let’s Get Cooking staff to ensure high-quality levels of service are maintained. Each club submits simple activity reports to the Let’s Get Cooking website ‘Club Zone’.

Clubs existing outside the Let’s Get Cooking framework will have the opportunity to be associated with the programme and receive funding and resources.

How does Let’s Get Cooking work?

Get Cooking

“Food is so important and we have let it go. Kids should be able to leave school and know how to make a stew or a stir fry.“Jamie Oliver


Business in the Community will act as a broker between companies and Let’s Get Cooking clubs to match community activity requirement on a local, regional or national basis.

Companies can select how they want to participate through a wide range of volunteering options in our Let’s Get Cooking Menu of Opportunities.

What will Business in the Community do for you? Business in the Community will convene three meetings to address the following:

1. An introductory meeting to discuss the project and volunteering opportunities.

2. A briefing session for company staff on different types and levels of volunteering.

3. An annual review meeting to assess your activity.

Business in the Community will also help your company to capture, measure, and communicate your support of Let’s Get Cooking.

Cares Cares is Business in the Community’s national campaign that mobilises businesses and employees to address social issues in communities most in need through volunteering. More than 400 companies support city-based and regional Cares partnerships in 36 locations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

For companies who wish to have a full introductory and specialised brokerage service, Let’s Get Cooking can be delivered through the Cares programme.

How can my company get involved?

Get Cooking


At Business in the Community, we have composed a menu of activities to inspire, engage, support and challenge businesses to mobilise their staff through Let’s Get Cooking. Businesses can support and participate in the Let’s Get Cooking programme locally, regionally or nationally.

The menu is not exhaustive, but provides a handy guideline and is divided into three areas:

1. Employee volunteers

2. In-kind support

3. Events and wider community opportunities

Let’s Get Cooking clubs seeking business support will provide full details of all activities available. Business in the Community will provide advice and guidance to businesses engaged in the programme based on the level of brokerage the company requires. The types of opportunities outlined here are subject to availability.

Let’s Get CookingMenu of Volunteering Opportunities

Get Cooking



Employee volunteers

Description Potential Time Commitment

Programme Benefits

Individual support: Project management with club managers: Assist in cooking club set-up and operations.

Two hours per week for minimum of one term.

Business Benefits include:

The development of personal and professional skills including leadership, presentation, marketing and communication.

Increased knowledge of healthy eating and well-being.

Increased staff motivation.

Measurement and reporting of community investment.

PR and marketing opportunities.

Raised awareness of employment opportunities within the food industry.

Community Benefits include:

Support provided to the run a club takes the pressure off teachers and demonstrators with large classes.

Pupils benefit from new and varied adult role models and perspectives.

Clubs will share best practice and to see their role in the wider healthy eating movement.

Educates children about the food chain and nutrition.

Creates awareness, raises clubs’ media profile opportunities and recognition for the efforts of people involved.

Mentoring a teacher or adult club volunteer to support their planning and activities.

More than one hour per week for minimum of one term.

Assist a demonstrator and children: This could include helping with cooking, shopping for ingredients and setting up facilities and requires assistance for children aged between seven and 11 years during club sessions. This can be a one-off or regular event.

Two hours per week for one to 12 weeks.

Be a demonstrator: Free training can be given to those who wish to take a more active role in teaching the children skills and planning the lessons.

Two days of training, then more than two hours per week for minimum one term.

Website and communication. Populate and manage the Club Zone of the Let’s Get Cooking website. This includes reporting on activities and sharing information with other schools in the area.

Two hours of training, then one hour per week for a minimum of one term.

Marketing and events: Work with the club to gain other types of support by building relationships with companies, seeking sponsorship and prizes, writing, designing and distributing newsletters, calendars and cookery books.

A two-hour meeting, then over one hour per week for a minimum of 15 weeks per year.

Talks and presentations: Make a visit to a school to talk about different types of food, health, farming or working in the food industry.

Variable, but usually one hour per month (can take place at different schools).

Or, one hour per week each school term.

Attend quarterly regional ‘cluster’ meetings held for adult club volunteers: Share information and gain inspiration from each other to sustain the momentum and progress of the cooking clubs.

Three hours every quarter for one academic year.

1. Employee volunteers

Get Cooking

In-Kind Support Description Time Commitment Value

Individual support: Materials and resources: Cooking and electrical equipment, and vouchers for clubs, competitions and prizes.

Variable Business Benefits

The company benefits from PR and marketing.

This provides an opportunity to use excess products, or end of line supplies, to make tangible community impact.

Community Benefits

Clubs receive limited funding to spend on running costs, resources and materials over the period of three years. Therefore, in-kind support will ensure that the funding goes further to maintain and improve the club providing a greater boost for their future sustainability.

Food: Specifically store cupboard or general food for introductory sessions, start-up days, training courses, and club or community events.

Variable

Venue or service provision: For training days, start-up events or community events, including meeting rooms, kitchens and IT suites.

Four to eight hours

Transport: Sponsorship or provision of mini-buses for schools to attend start-up days, community events or trips to farms and factories.

Eight hours

Note: This menu of suggested actions for businesses to support Let’s Get Cooking is intended to provide a starting point for business irrespective of their size, region of operation or sector. The three categories of support identified here range from simple one–off actions through to more sophisticated activities. This spectrum of choice ensures a range of opportunities are designed according to the skills base of employees, and the resource and commitment available from business and the Let’s Get Cooking clubs.

2. In-kind support opportunities

Get Cooking


Events & Wider Community Opportunities

Description Potential Time Commitment

Programme Benefits

Team Challenges*: Projects assisting cooking club events with skill-sharing or practical work chosen from our list of challenges available. Suitable for all levels.

Team Leader – two days, plus planning time.

Business Benefits include:

Application of professional business planning and project management outside the work environment.

Team leader development.

Team building opportunities.

Community Benefits:

Hands-on assistance, expertise and skills that communities could otherwise not afford.

Provide volunteer teams to support local Let’s Get Cooking clubs and improve their cooking facilities. Examples include organising community events such as summer picnics, sports days and festivals. Suitable for all levels.

Team Members – one day.

3. Events & wider community opportunities

*Cares partners receive a briefing session and site visit for the designated team leader. Cares provides additional services for most of the above volunteering opportunities, including individual and in-kind support.

Get Cooking



What are the benefits to the company and staff?

Get recognised and rewarded

“Our staff enjoy supporting their communities. It’s a great result for everyone; the project gets an extra pair of hands and staff hone their skills outside of the workplace whilst having a lot of fun.“John Kelly, Chairman, Trainline.com

Community volunteering provides business with a unique opportunity to engage employees and develop their skills and competences, including communication, project management, leadership and team working.

Community volunteering also provides businesses with an opportunity to demonstrate their values and contribute to improved employee perceptions, behaviour, motivation and retention.

Business in the Community’s employee volunteering research shows that:

91% of staff who have volunteered are in favour of their company entering a partnership with a community group or school, involving opportunities for longer term volunteering.*

58% of volunteers felt the skills and competencies they developed were useful in a work context.*

83% of employees reported that their perception of their company had improved, and they felt more pride and commitment to their employer.*

Working directly with communities substantially raises the profile of businesses ethos and brand and provides contact with the nation’s customers of tomorrow.

*Cares statistics 2008.


Activity Reporting By supplying Business in the Community with information on the hours and type of activity you have undertaken, we will analyse this through a reporting tool to calculate the cumulative value of your community investment for Let’s Get Cooking. Our analysis includes the number of people assisted and the percentage of activity in deprived areas. Qualitative feedback will be captured through on line surveys.

Toolkit and Guidelines Business in the Community encourages its member companies to inspire others by sharing their best practice. We will be publishing a toolkit for distribution to all Let’s Get Cooking clubs, which will include case studies of how specific companies’ activities and the benefits both partners derived.

Community Mark For businesses striving to achieve the CommunityMark, Business in the Community’s national standard of excellence in community investment, Let’s Get Cooking can help you achieve this goal. In a crowded marketplace Community Mark distinguishes your company to all stakeholders as an exemplar of community investment and corporate responsibility.

Business in the Community Awards for Excellence Business in the Community’s Education Award recognises a company’s community programmes that raise the achievement of young people aged five to 19 by building sustainable partnerships with schools throughout the UK. The Active Communities Award recognises company community programmes that involve partnership with voluntary of public sector programmes to improve the health and well-being of UK communities.

How can we communicate and report on our activity?

Get recognised and rewarded

78% of the general public want to hear about how responsible a company is to their customers, local community and employees.

Business in the Community MORI STUDY.


1. Can I choose which schools to work with? Business can work with any Let’s Get Cooking Club that asks for support. Clubs operate in all regions throughout England. Schools invited to apply to participate of Let’s Get Cooking are selected in consultation with healthy school co-ordinators, Local Education Authorities and Primary Care Trusts.

2. Are volunteers trained? Yes. Business in the Community will provide a half a days briefing workshop for volunteers. If a participating company is already a Cares partner, they will receive a more detailed brokerage package as part of this process.

3. How long does a volunteer have to commit to help? There is no limit. When a volunteer selects a type of opportunity, the time requirement is listed and in signing up, and the volunteer commits to that requirement. The range of opportunities vary from a one-off one hour task to more substantial involvement that could run for the duration of the academic year. For further information, refer to the menu of opportunities.

4. Will we be expected to fund the club? No, the clubs receive funding from The Big Lottery Fund for the first three years of operation, which covers basic running and equipment costs, including ingredients and events. Any in-kind or financial support from businesses would ensure that Big Lottery funding goes a lot further and that clubs are able to maintain and improve their programme over time.

5. What costs are involved for Business in the Community (BITC)? Companies can support Let’s Get Cooking at no charge to BITC and will receive basic information and guidance. However, Let’s Get Cooking is part of the BITC Cares programme and if a detailed management and brokerage service is required, companies will incur standard Cares partners costs.

6. What does Business in the Community (BITC) do to help manage in-house Let’s Get Cooking volunteering? BITC provides you with an engagement programme, three meetings, which include an annual report back. Any additional support and management of the programme is available as part of the BITC Cares package.

7. How does the programme fit with the school curriculum? The position in primary schools varies from school to school, with many primary children receiving little or no practical cooking experience within the curriculum. The government has introduced ‘Licence to Cook’ in secondary school which gives students the option of choosing cooking as part of the Design and Technology curriculum. From September 2011 cooking lessons will be compulsory for Key Stage 3 children (aged 11 – 14), although the number and format of the lessons is still to be determined. Let’s Get Cooking complements these curriculum elements. The programme ensures a wider group of primary and secondary pupils will develop practical cooking skills and works with parents, other family members and the wider community.

8. Are we expected to do CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) checks? These are only necessary with some of the volunteering opportunities. CRB checks are necessary if a volunteer is going to be left alone with a child without any other adult supervision. As a volunteer, you may have access to free CRB checks, which take six to eight weeks to process. However, if this is a requirement of the school, they can arrange a CRB check free of charge.

Frequently Asked Questions


Let’s Get Cooking: www.letsgetcooking.org.uk

Principal Partners The Big Lottery Fund: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

The School Food Trust: www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk

The British Nutrition Foundation: www.nutrition.org.uk

The Royal Society for Public Health: www.rsph.org

The Prince’s Trust: www.princes-trust.org.uk

Magic Outcomes: www.magicoutcomes.com

Business in the Community Campaigns Business Action on Health: www.bitc.org.uk/workplace/health_and_wellbeing/index.html

Education: www.bitc.org.uk/community/education

The Prince’s Rural Action Programme: www.bitc.org.uk/princes_programmes/rural_action/

Cares: www.bitc.org.uk/community/employee_volunteering/cares

Related Organisations The Prince’s Charities: www.princescharities.org

The Department for Children, Schools and Families: www.dcsf.gov.uk

Government Obesity Paper: www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/health/obesity

Government Healthy Schools Strategy: www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/health/healthyschools

Food for Life Partnership: www.foodforlife.org.uk

Related Reports and Knowledge Proof of the pudding: www.insightinvestment.com/uk/responsibleinvestment/riandcg/engagement/consumerhealthandobesity

Family Cooking Together Information: www.eatingbritain.com/self-raising-families.html

Business in the Community Healthy School Meals report: www.bitc.org.uk

Business Action on Healthy Eating Report: www.bitc.org.uk

Business in the Community Plough to Plate Report: www.bitc.org.uk

Links & Resources

Business in the Community 137 Sheperdess Walk London N1 7RQ T +44 (0)20 7566 8650 F +44 (0)20 7253 1877 E [email protected]

March 2009

Business in the Community – mobilising business for good. We inspire, engage, support and challenge companies on responsible business, working through four areas: Marketplace, Workplace, Environment and Community. With more than 850 companies in membership, we represent 1 in 5 of the UK private sector workforce and convene a network of global partners.

www.bitc.org.ukRegistered details 137 Sheperdess Walk, London N1 7RQ, Telephone 020 7566 8650Registered Charity No: 297716, Company limited by Guarantee No: 1619253 Printed on Revive 100 Offset, containing 100% de-inked post-consumer waste.Designed by Proportion Marketing Limited | Printed by BPL | Product code 01COM000459

Contact Us

For further information on working with Let’s Get Cooking please contact:

Vanessa Strauss

Phone: 020 7566 8762

Email: [email protected]

or visit the website: www.bitc.org.uk/letsgetcooking

Partners

An IPSOS Mori survey for office workers conducted for Baxter Storey revealed that skipping breakfast costs £8.1 billion or 46.5 million working days every year.

healthy communities: community environment it’s your ......business can work in partnership with...

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