A STUDLEY foodbank is holding a Ready Steady Cook-style competition to raise awareness of food poverty.
Arden Foodbank has challenged chefs at the Little Lark, the Railway Inn and the Jubilee to compete to see which pub can create and cook the best two-course meal, using the contents of an emergency food parcel.
All parcels are nutritionally balanced and contain sufficient food for three meals for three days.
The competition will take place on at 6pm on Tuesday, August 20, at the Jubilee, at 7pm on Wednesday, August 21, at the Railway Inn and at 7pm on Thursday, August 22, at the Little Lark.
In addition to the emergency food parcel, each chef will be able to spend up to £3 to supplement its contents, and will be able to choose up to three fresh items from Alcester Community Fridge.
Chefs will provide a recipe card for each meal, which foodbank volunteers can give out to clients in future.
The chef’s meals will be judged by a panel of four residents – Mike Osborne, chair of Studley Parish Council, Jennifer Stone, artistic director at Aunty Jen Productions, Steve Marchant, director of Masefields Architects, and Ruth Jewell, a funeral celebrant.
The result will be announced at the winning pub at 7pm next Friday, August 23.
Susan Kinnersley, manager of Arden Foodbank, said: “The latest figures show that Studley and Alcester have almost the same population.
“In 2023, we fed a total of 1,856 people including 643 children – double the number in 2022 – but only 480 or 25 per cent of those came to our Studley Foodbank.
“This event is one of several things we are doing to try and increase our visibility in Studley and reach those who need us most.”
The foodbank is open every Tuesday from 2pm until 3.30pm at the Methodist Church in Studley and every Friday at the Eric Payne Community Centre in Alcester.
Arden Foodbank has been careful to avoid using any donated food for this event.
The cost of the emergency food parcels used each evening is being met by two sponsors, AHC Homes and Chris Osborne, and all unused food will be donated to the foodbank.
