Testimonials

EDUCATION – Newcastle University

It has been a pleasure to work with Tracey and the Cracking Good Food team on our fibre research project. We aimed to increase dietary fibre intake in vulnerable populations to improve health. As academics, we understood and advocate for fibre, however by working with Tracey we found a champion who could shape and inform the way we approach and interact with communities. The Cracking Good Food team brings high level nutrition knowledge, empathetic community engagement, and a very strong network, without which our project could not have succeeded.

Bernard Corfe FRSB, Professor of Human Nutrition, Newcastle University

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT – MP Afzal Khan

As the Member of Parliament for Manchester Rusholme, I am very proud that Cracking Good Food has
its base in my constituency.
I share the values of Cracking Good Food that “All Deserve Good Food” and that we must work together to tackle the inequalities that mean that this is not a reality for too many within Greater Manchester.
Cracking Good Food has a long history in Greater Manchester over the last 16 years, and I have been involved with their work for much of my time as Member of Parliament.
With one of the youngest constituencies in the country, I am particularly delighted that at the Feeding Your Future programme that they run has made some serious inroads to providing training and opportunities for so many young people, with over 80% of those on the programme moving into employment, education, volunteering or training and ALL gaining a recognised qualification.
Health is a big priority for me and not just treatment of illness, but in promoting good mental and physical health and nutrition is a key part. The community cooking classes that Cracking Good Food deliver have a made a huge difference to people’s health. Not only in nutritional terms, but also in using food to connect people and reduce social isolation and improve mental health and community well-being.
I am pleased to support their work, both locally and in Parliament, and believe they provide a vital community service.
Yours sincerely,

Afzal Khan MP, Member of Parliament for Manchester, Rusholme

COMMUNITY – Friends of Clarence Park

Cracking Good Food have delivered a series of monthly community cookery sessions in Bury for Friends of Clarence Park.  As a friends group backing onto one of the more
deprived areas of Bury, we identified the need to support residents in making cheap, nutritious,
plant based meals as part of a gardening/cooking/cycling project we are running with funding
from our Community Climate Change Fund.  Cracking Good Food's course has been extremely
popular. They really understood how to pitch the promotional material, so it attracted a wide
base of people; doesn't sound too worthy or 'for poor people'.  It's meant we've been successful in attracting a very diverse section of the community.  Their staff and volunteers bring everything needed – we just supply the space and the people!  They are incredibly efficient and leave our
venue cleaner than when they come.  We have found the organisation to be friendly, extremely
good value for money, and able to deliver a superb course that has also increase our profile.  We
are looking to try to fund future courses using their services, and would highly recommend them
to other community groups or projects.

Dawn, Secretary, Friends of Clarence Park – September 2022

LOCAL AUTHORITY – Oldham Council

The Public Health Team has worked closely with Cracking Good Food. They have been an active member of the food security group helping to shift the mindset away from crisis
food provision. In my experience Cracking Good Food are more than ‘just another food project’; they go beyond
crisis food provision to teach and share cooking skills and nutritional knowledge which are vital to
the development of resilient communities with reduced health inequalities. The skills taught and
shared at their cooking sessions have empowered some of Oldham’s most deprived communities
to make healthy, affordable food and diet choices within the limitations of their budget, facilities
and personal circumstances. Cracking Good Food have supported the implementation of the Oldham Food Strategy, helping to ensure a joined-up approach to supporting our community’s food and cooking needs.

– Mike Bridges, Public Health Specialist, Oldham Council

EDUCATION – Manchester Metropolitan University

The online sessions with Gemma were very helpful in letting me understand the problems of poverty and inequalities in the UK in general and Greater Manchester in particular, and the consequences of food insecurity associated with these factors. The problem of food insecurity is multifaceted, but as dietitians and other professionals in food, nutrition and healthcare, perhaps we could help tackle this issue from a bottom-up approach, starting from education and promotion of healthy eating and lifestyles.

– Placement Dietetics Masters Student, MMU

COMMUNITY – Jinnah Day Care Centre

I am writing to thank you and all your team and volunteers who made the kitchen kit programme so successful. With the free equipment that you have provided for us we will be able to run our healthy eating cookery sessions at our centre. It makes a huge difference to people in the community who have become more vulnerable in the current economic crisis.

– Imtiaz Hussain, Jinnah Day Care Centre

EDUCATION – University of Manchester

My experience with CGF was one of a kind. I had a really good time working in the community. Being able to reach out to people and make a small difference in their lives is very satisfying. I have grown as a person and it has changed my perspective of improving nutrition in the community.. it’s a lot more than what we usually think. All the members of CGF are really helpful and make sure you get the best exposure required for your career growth. It also helped me improve my communication skills, made me more confident and taught me to think on my feet. Thank you CGF!

– Placement Medical Student, University of Manchester

HEALTH AGENCIES – Mastercall

Coming Soon.

LOCAL AUTHORITY –

It’s so great to have partnered with such a worthwhile initiative such as Feeding Your Future. We need to give our young people a future and that is what this course has done for those 7 individuals. Thank you, Cracking Good Food.

SOCIAL HOUSING – Onward Homes

I love some of the soups. I already cook a lot at home but this [Cracking good food] has given me loads of new ideas and encouraged me to try different types of food when I am cooking.

– Ruth Smith, Onward Tenant

LOCAL AUTHORITY – Manchester City Council

Cracking Good Food are a key strategic and delivery partner of the Our Manchester Food
Partnership (OMPF).  Their skill, experience and expertise have been vital to the creation,
development and delivery of vital projects around the food and poverty agenda.  They understand
the ‘more than food’ concept, and have led on a range of innovative anti-poverty projects in some
of Manchester’s most deprived neighbourhoods.  These have included projects to upskill local
people to prepare and deliver good quality foods to the most vulnerable members of the
community.  The OMFP wholeheartedly recommend Cracking Good Food as partners who can be
depended on to create and deliver the highest quality, best value service to our residents.

– Our Manchester Food Partnership, Manchester City Council

COMMUNITY – Local Resident

Mostly I help with the cleaning up, I make sure everything is clean and tidy and is in keeping with health and safety. I recently did a course with Groundwork that taught me all this so now I am
putting it into practice. I like that Onward brought cracking good food here, they have shown us a lot
of new things. I have started doing some recipes to help with my health problems which has helped
me lose weight, given me more energy and helped with my chronic pain. The allergy information
they have provided has also been useful as it has helped me find alternatives when there are things I
can’t eat.

– Michelle Knight, local resident

SOCIAL HOUSING – Onward Homes

I have helped out with the preparation of food and the cooking with cracking good food a few times now. Before Christmas I learnt how to make garlic paste and how to cook chorizo pizzas. I am not very good with money and before I was spending a lot on takeaway food and wasting a lot of the food I was buying in. I now don’t eat as many takeaways, as I have learnt how to make some simple meals and I also now cook a bit more in bulk so I can freeze leftovers for a later day. I have asked Kala [the chef] if I can volunteer with the cooking for the next few sessions so that I can increase my skills.

– Samantha Jones, Onward Tenant

SOCIAL HOUSING – Onward Homes

I have never really helped out in the kitchen before. Since Cracking good Food started coming into Zest I have had more interest. At first I was just watching them cook but now I have helped with chopping onions and preparing other vegetables. I think I would be able to do this more at home now which I hope will also help my mental health.

– Andrea Locker, Onward Tenant

SOCIAL HOUSING – Onward Homes

Before I started coming to Cracking good food I used to eat a lot of ready meals and takeaways because I wasn’t a very confident cook. I have now made curries at homes since coming here as I have learnt how to do it and now I save money because I am buying in less takeaways. I also do a lot more bulk cooking to use food up and I do a lot more cooking from scratch. My health has actually improved as well. I really like the puddings they make!

– Charlotte Cummings, Onward Tenant

COMMUNITY – Local Resident

I have seen some different recipes from here that I have gone home and made. I never thought I’d like pumpkin but then I had pumpkin soup made here and had to go home and make it. I do cook, but I eat a lot of rubbish and this has helped me to be more adventurous and try new things.

– Angela Garfield, Local resident

SOCIAL HOUSING – Clarion Housing Group

We have been working with Cracking Good Food for over eighteen months, and they have been delivering cooking sessions with our residents, both locally with face-to-face classes and nationally online. They have been happy to design bespoke courses that really suit the needs of our residents. For example, they now run online COOKAlongs bi-monthly that are aimed at young care leavers, and they have proved very popular, inspiring participants who are just moving into their own home to cook affordable meals from scratch. I would highly recommend them because their flexibility makes them such a good partner to work with.

COMMUNITY – Connexions

Connexions Careers Service Bolton have had the pleasure of working with Cracking GoodFood over the past 18 months, commissioning programmes for our most vulnerable NEET (not in education, employment or training) young people aged 16-18. Their unique delivery seamlessly blends cookery with their ability to build confidence, resilience and self-esteem something much needed for this cohort. We would have no hesitation in continuing to work together and look forward to developing further programmes and ideas. They are a breath of fresh air and show that you can be creative, up to date and sustainable all at the same time with a passion to educate and improve the lives of others through food.

– Sarah Seed, Connexions