Wednesday October 14th 2026
Cookery students take part int he train the trainer session at The Larder (photo by West Lothian Food Network)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
West Lothian Food Network has joined forces with Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food to bring cooking skills to local communities.
The new partnership will help equip communities across the county with practical skills to cook healthy, affordable meals.
The partnership will bring the Ministry of Food “Train the Trainer” programme to West Lothian, creating a network of local trainers who can pass practical cooking skills and food education directly into communities across the area.
Training is taking place at The Larder, a local social enterprise with dedicated kitchen facilities, giving participants the opportunity to develop their skills in a practical, hands-on setting.
Nine people from organisations within the West Lothian Food Network will take part in the programme, which is accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).
Once trained, participants will have the knowledge, resources and confidence to deliver food skills training and practical cooking sessions within their own communities.
The approach will help build capacity across West Lothian by creating a sustainable network of local food champions who can support individuals and families beyond the initial programme.
Training focuses on practical cooking skills, healthy eating and making the most of household food budgets. Participants will also have access to recipes, nutritional information and healthy-eating resources which can be shared within their communities.
The partnership is being highlighted during Challenge Poverty Week, this week, reflecting the important role that access to affordable, nutritious food and practical cooking skills can play in supporting households experiencing financial pressures.
Ray Fallan, Co-ordinator of the West Lothian Food Network, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food to bring this programme to West Lothian.
“This partnership is about much more than teaching people how to cook. By training people who are already working within our communities, we can give them the skills and resources to share that knowledge with others and create a lasting impact across West Lothian.
“With household budgets continuing to be under pressure, helping people develop the confidence to prepare healthy, nutritious and affordable meals is incredibly important. We’re excited to see the knowledge gained through this programme being taken back into communities across the area.”
Rosanna Bluett, Food Education Manager at Jamie Oliver Group, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the West Lothian Food Network to help bring our Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food practical cooking skills and food education to local communities across the area.
“Through our Royal Society of Public Health accredited ‘Train the Trainer’ programme, we are empowering local partners and community leaders with the knowledge, resources and confidence to deliver hands-on, healthy cooking classes.
“This initiative aims to inspire individuals and families to cook delicious, nutritious and budget-friendly meals from scratch, supporting long-term health, well-being and community resilience.
“West Lothian Food Network plays a vital role in supporting households to access good nutritious food and we are really excited to be part of their fantastic community initiative.”
The West Lothian Food Network brings together organisations working collaboratively to tackle food insecurity and support access to good, nutritious food across West Lothian.
Through the new partnership with Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food, the Network hopes to strengthen this work by giving local organisations the skills and resources to provide practical food education within the communities they already support.
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