They were informed about issues such as food storage, cleanliness when preparing meals, and how to spot the common causes of food poisoning – which will lead to improved self-care.
The scheme was rolled out by Independent Futures – part of Devon & Cornwall Housing group – who provide a wide range of services for people to help them live independent and full lives.
This includes managing specialist support staff who work with older people living in sheltered housing and the provision of temporary accommodation and one-to-one support for young people at risk of homelessness to help them gain confidence, training and move into work and achieve full independence.
The course will help to boost the employability of some of the younger residents, based at Bideford, by giving them new skills for the workplace – as well as food for thought to pursue a career in catering.
Sarah Vaughan, Team Manager for i-Futures Young People Services,said: “The course provided useful skills for independent living and cooking in the home, as well as for finding work in the catering industry.”
Older residents were equally keen to attend as they run a residents’ group and want to offer refreshments at events.
The nine residents who attended the course gained the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Level 2 Award in Food Safety – a recognised qualification – after studying with First Aid South West.