Salix Homes tenant cooks up a new career

An aspiring chef is cooking up a new career for herself thanks to a helping hand from Salix Homes.

Salix Homes tenant Charmain Green, 34, has got her sights set on a career in the catering industry after taking part in a family cooking course we organised.

Salix Homes has teamed up with food charity Fareshare to teach ourtenants and their children how to prepare healthy meals on a budget.

Charmain, from Charlestown, attended the cookery sessions at St Sebastian’s Community Centre with her 11-year-old son Ethan and has now got the cooking bug.

When she signed up for the course Chairman was unemployed, but thanks to the new skills she’s learnt, she’s secured a 12-week voluntary work placement at the Deli Lama Café in Islington and is hoping to go on to secure a permanent job in the catering industry.

She said: “I’d always done a lot of cooking at home and it is a passion and a hobby of mine anyway, so when I saw the cookery course with Salix Homes I thought I might as well give it a go and try and make something of it.

“I really enjoyed the cooking sessions and learnt a lot about making fresh food from scratch – it’s really inspired me to work in this industry when I get my cooking qualifications.”

Charmain is now hoping to complete her Food Hygiene qualification with Salix Homes.

Sue Sutton, our executive director of operations, added: “The aim of our cooking courses are to teach our tenants how to cook a variety of low-cost, healthy dishes for the whole family on a tight budget while providing them with the skills and opportunities that will help them to secure employment.

“Charmain is a real ambassador for the benefits of this project and we are very proud to be playing a role in her development. She has picked up some new skills which will hopefully help her secure employment and help her build a bright future for her and her family.”

Another six-week cooking course for Salix Homes’ tenants will be starting in Broughton later this summer.

To secure your place contact Cath Walton on 0161 779 8021 or email hello@salixhomes.org