YOU Can Cook is a Peebles based social enterprise legally constituted as a community interest company.

Unlike other similar organisations we have an “Asset Lock” clause in our constitution. All profits are ploughed back into the community each year. The aim of the organisation is to encourage and empower local communities to make informed choices about their food and health. This meant being flexible, as an organisation to adapt our services to suit community needs and aspirations all over Scotland.

Corporate Sponsors: We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Ikea who as part of their corporate social responsibility agenda have agreed to support You Can Cook in sponsoring a “Kitchen Starter Kit” for families and individuals on low income or benefits in the Tweeddale area.

Ikea were very supportive about our social enterprise and its work with disadvantaged communities across Scotland. We had a successful meeting with them and negotiated a starter pack consisting of 20 essential items for everyday use in the kitchen.

We have been given five starter packs at the moment to help support the current families we are training to cook at home delicious meals on a budget. Many of the families and individuals we work with have minimal equipment in their kitchens and are currently struggling to feed themselves either due to benefit sanctions or low income.

At You Can Cook we have seen first hand the devastating impact of welfare cuts and job losses in the Borders.

Minimum wage employment, out of control prices of essentials food items, lack of cooking skills and general awareness of food related issues, all contribute to exacerbating the situation that many people find themselves in very quickly. Currently we are working with families in the Tweeddale area as part of a 12-week programme jointly funded by the Big Lottery and the Scottish Government.

The next two programmes will be commencing next year. We have received positive feedback from the participants and also staff from Innerleithen Family Centre who are jointly working with us on this project.

Budget constraints at local council level mean no funds for activities that may actually help and support families to overcome their financial situation by learning to cook fresh meals, which are cheaper than ready-meals or takeaways!

This unfortunately leads to a cycle of dependency on other already limited resources and food banks. We as an organization are doing what other statutory bodies should be providing as part of their remit.

You Can Cook is not funded and has to dip into its very limited resources to support these individuals and their families. Access to good food should be a human right and not an after thought in any government or NHS policy.