MUMS have been busy cooking up an array of culinary delights in a school kitchen after being served up lessons in healthy eating.

The after-school cookery classes at Aileymill Primary are part of the school's 'Ways to Wellbeing' and Youth Connections Food for Thought projects.

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Principal teacher Louise Quigley set up the classes and also runs a creche for the children while their mums are in the kitchen.

Louise said: "It's about building up relationships, we've had an arts project and now cooking on a budget.

"We work closely with Kay Clark and the Youth Connections Food for Thought project.

"I run and fund the creche through Tesco vouchers and run activities with the children while parents are in the kitchen, then we all get together at the end to sample the meal.

"It's about supporting family learning and community engagement."

It is very much a team effort with head teacher Simon Simpson's wife Jackie, a retired chef, coming in to run the classes.

The Food for Thought Project aims to support families in Larkfield to help give children the best start in life and includes community fridges in four locations including Aileymill, St Andrew's Primary, Larkfield Children's Centre and Youth Connections in Burns Square.

Kay Clark, on behalf of Youth Connections, said: "The aim of the project is to engage with families and to challenge the issues of poverty.

"Louise Quigley runs the family group and asked me to link in with our project.

"She and head teacher Simon are very enthusiastic. At the session I was at, Simon got his sleeves rolled up and did the dishes." 

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The project is funded by venture philanthropy organisation Inspiring Scotland to tackle food poverty in the area.

It follows on from arts and crafts activity sessions held at the school and now being run at St Andrew's Primary.

Although the funding runs out in April, Youth Connections is applying for a further grant from the Big Lottery to allow the project to continue.

Kay said: "I am delighted that parents have come on board and we want to sustain the programme.

"We will be holding a cultural festival in April with all groups, with arts and crafts and cookery."