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Young chefs cook up healthy options

Budding chefs have been putting the spice back into their youth club by taking advantage of a bespoke new kitchen donated by housing specialists Bramall Construction.

The youngsters, all aged between 13 and 19-years-old, have been donning their chefs caps to whip up a number of recipes at the Burnage Multi Agency (BMAG) youth club in Burnage Lane, Manchester.

Bramall Construction, a Keepmoat company, installed the new kitchen and donated a fridge to the youth club entirely free of charge.

BMAG secured £3,300 of funding through Manchester City Council's Youth Capital Fund which has been used to refurbish the youth club's main hall and to provide a new seating area.

The youth club also applied to Southway Housing Trust's Community fund for a new kitchen, which led to Southway Housing Trust recommending Bramall Construction to carry out the works.

The housing specialists are currently working with Southway Housing Trust (which is part of The Impact Manchester Framework) on a £24 million ongoing programme of works to bring 2000 homes up to the Government's Decent Home standard.

The refurbishment work includes installing new kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors.

Carolyn Davies, the Project Manager at BMAG, said: "We are delighted with the new kitchen that Bramall has supplied us with, it's so much better than it was before.

"It has been extended into an L shape and includes a new cooker and modern new kitchen units. Our young people had to use a cupboard with just a microwave and sink before so it's a huge improvement.

"We're planning to use our new kitchen to teach cookery lessons in future as part of our healthy eating programme at the youth centre."

As a youth club, BMAG works with schools and teaches teenagers about the importance of leading healthy lifestyles. It also provides extra curricula activity ranging from Duke of Edinburgh schemes to bicycle maintenance, drama tuition and IT skills.

Steve Wright, Contracts Manager at Bramall Construction, said: "The youth centre acts as a community hub, and works hard to raise awareness about issues ranging from knife crime to gang involvement, drugs and alcohol.

"We are confident that the new kitchen will help the young people extend their living skills by teaching them all about food preparation, and the importance of health eating and nutrition in their daily lives."