Food safety course proves a recipe for success

A FREE course from Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) has helped 16 Stafford residents to gain a recognised three-year qualification in food safety.

The Level 2 Award in Food Safety course, run at Silkmore Children’s Centre, was organised through SARH’s Community Learning Programme.

One of customers to gain the qualification was Jean Tabernor, a former mayor of Stafford, who now fundraises for her chosen charity, the Donna Louise Trust, which operates the Treetops children’s hospice at Trentham.

“After my mayoralty year, I set up the Colwich Friends of the Donna Louise Trust and we have cake sales and make preserves to sell. I had undertaken a food safety course previously but you need to re-qualify every three years so this was a fabulous opportunity to update my knowledge.”

The training was led by Jan Mitchell, from Basix Training, and a special presentation to hand out certificates to those who passed the course took place at Tithe Barn Court, on Wednesday, March 13.

“The success of everyone who took part in this course shows how our community learning programme is enabling people to enhance their skills and knowledge,” said Christine Cartwright, Community Involvement Officer at SARH.

SARH’s Community Learning Programme includes 55 free sessions delivered across Stafford Borough throughout the year to help people into employment, improve health and wellbeing, encourage people to meet others or pick up a new skill or hobby.

Courses range from CV Writing and Interview Skills to Basic Gardening Skills, Glass Painting and Tai Chi.

“The sessions are free and open to anyone regardless of experience or ability so we would encourage everyone to have a go at something,” said Christine.

More information on the Community Learning Programme is available on the customer involvement pages of the SARH website www.sarh.co.uk

Alternatively please call the Community Involvement Team on 0800 111 4554 or email cp@sarh.co.uk.