Family Cookery with Rt. Hon Rachel Reeves

Earlier this month we had the privilege of hosting the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Member of Parliament for Leeds West and Pudsey, Rachel Reeves, at a showcase of the work we do to empower families.

During the visit, the Chancellor was invited to participate in one of our Family Cookery Groups, which was being held at Bramley St. Peter’s Primary School. The Chancellor spent time chatting with each of the six families taking part. They were eager to share their experiences and stories, as well as talking the Chancellor through the recipe of the day, harvest pork casserole, and the positive impact Flourishing Families has had on them.

It was an honour to be able to show the Chancellor the hands-on, grass-roots way in which we address critical issues such as food poverty and poor nutrition by supporting some of the most vulnerable families in her home constituency to feel confident in preparing healthy, low cost meals from scratch.

As part of the showcase members of our team, including our cookery, mentoring and literacy leads, provided a detailed overview of FFL’s weekly activities. It was a joy to really highlight to our local MP how everything we do is deeply embedded in the heart of the community.

Reflecting on the visit, the Chancellor remarked: “I had a wonderful time visiting the Flourishing Families Cookery Club today at Bramley St. Peter’s Primary School. It was a pleasure to meet Kate, her amazing team, and all the families supported by this incredible charity.”

FFL’s CEO, Kate Colbrook, expressed her gratitude for the visit: “We were delighted to welcome the Chancellor to see firsthand the work we do to support vulnerable families. Her engagement with our team and the families we serve is a testament to the importance of community-driven initiatives in creating lasting change.”