How young people on Peabody’s Vanguard estate in Lewisham served up a healthy three-course meal to guests from the local community.
Pukka Tukka is an Activate London project which teaches young people how to prepare nutritious, tasty food on a budget. Sessions at Vanguard’s community centre in Lewisham have proved hugely popular with young people on the estate and from the surrounding community.
Pukka Tukka chefs (left to right): Alvin,
Darnell and George
Taking a well-earned break from chopping onions, nine-year-old Brook said:
"My favourite thing about coming here is being with friends and learning new things. I’ve learned how to cook healthy food and now I eat more healthy things rather than junk food. Well, most of the time."
In the kitchen Peabody Health Awareness Co-ordinator Sue Morgan was marshalling a noisily enthusiastic group of cooks. She said:
"The young people here are learning about good hygiene and cooking practice. They’re starting to eat much more healthily now."
The sessions bring other benefits too. Damian Rifat, Safer Neighbourhoods Police Constable, pointed out:
"Pukka Tukka is great as it provides the opportunity for young people to build friendships and learn valuable life skills.
"Historically there were problems in this area due to gang-related incidents and anti-social behaviour. But since we’ve been working with Peabody on projects like Pukka Tukka I’m glad to say that the area doesn’t have the same problems.
Brook: "Now I eat more healthy things"
"The community centre provides a safe, friendly environment and young people are now more than happy to say hello or speak to us about things that may be of concern to them."
And a typical menu? Guests enjoyed fruit salad, spaghetti Bolognese, greens – and dessert, of course.
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Peabody gets vote of confidence from regulatorEngage Spring 2010
