Did you know that running an air fryer costs approximately 32p per day if you use it for half an hour, while using a slow cooker for eight hours averages at 38p per day. It costs a whopping £1.43 to run an oven for two hours.
Not everybody knows about this difference, but they will certainly notice the money in their pocket once they make the switch. All very well if you can afford an air fryer or slow cooker, but this is where St Martins ‘Get Thrifty’ project comes in. Thanks to funding from the Norfolk Community Foundation, we are starting a new project where people can join a short cooking course to give them the experience of using an air fryer or slow cooker, along with some tasty recipes. They will be provided with an appliance of their own so they have an energy efficient appliance to cook with along with the skills to use it.
The cooking course will take the form of a lunch club running four days a week from St Martins learning and development service Under 1 Roof, meaning that people using St Martins services can benefit from a hot meal, even if they are not on the course.
Head of Community Services Lucy Bone said, “This project is all about encouraging people to be energy-efficient in a way that is practical for them. It will result in more money in the pockets of households experiencing financial hardship. An added bonus is the development of cooking skills, and the fact that the people we support can access a free hot meal throughout the duration of the project.”
In addition, the funding will enable St Martins to give away energy efficient light bulbs to use in their own homes. Lucy said, “These items can be costly and are not a top priority for the people we support. When you are on a low income you always purchase the cheapest option, and this is seldom the most energy-efficient or cheapest option in the long run. It’s a win-win to help save money on utility bills and to reduce our carbon footprints.”
The cost of living continues to be a challenge for the people we support. Some of those on benefits find that they simply do not have enough money at the end of the month, no matter how carefully they budget.
Thanks to the Norfolk Community Foundation, we have been able to alleviate some of this pressure by providing grants to help with paying for energy bills and to purchase food. The grant will pay for 149 of the people we support who have been identified as financially struggling.
The way the money is distributed depends on the independence of each person – for example, some people will receive a food voucher for a local supermarket so they can shop for themselves, for others, a support worker will accompany them to purchase the items they need or pay for their energy. For others who may be housebound or have mobility problems, we have assembled food parcels so they can prepare something filling and nutritious.
The first session took place on the 6th August where the people we support made fajitas. One of the people we support said ‘I didn’t know how easy this would be. It will save me so much time and money’.
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