TWO Southampton community cooks have received help in the kitchen thanks to Jamie Oliver.

Nicola Ward and Rachel Murray, from Pickles Coppice Children’s Centre, have learned how to make the most of small food donations and minimise food waste after taking part in the Tesco Community Cookery School with Jamie Oliver.

The Tesco cookery school, launched in January of this year, helps to provide the community cooks with the food knowledge to make use of whatever is in the donations that arrive at their kitchen door.

Nicola said: “I had a good day at the Tesco Community Cookery School. I learnt alternative healthier ways of seasoning food, along with interesting facts about food waste. As a direct result of the day, a number of changes have been implemented to our Come and Cook Café, to include nutritional facts and food waste.”

Rachel added: “It was an inspirational day, making us feel valued for the work we do in the community.

“Our group has been running at Pickles Coppice for almost three years.

“The course brought fresh ideas, facts and enthusiasm for making improvements.

“We are looking forward to sharing all these with the families who attend our weekly Come and Cook Café on Wednesday mornings.

“Tesco also sent each of us home with a huge amount of amazing resources to help boast the group. This included a recipe book, blender, ingredients and a £100 Tesco voucher.”

Tesco is planning to train 1,000 community cooks through the Tesco Community Cookery School in 2019.