PUPILS at Tondu Primary School have been building real-life cooking and nutrition skills through hands-on sessions delivered by Cooking Together Wales, supported by the Bridgend Sustainable Food Partnership.
The practical classes help make healthy choices simple, social and sustainable, giving children skills they can take home and use for life.
Launched in January 2024, the Bridgend Sustainable Food Partnership brings together organisations across Bridgend County Borough with a shared mission: to ensure sustainable, healthy food is accessible to all. The Partnership takes a collaborative, coordinated approach across the whole food system – connecting local people and projects to create a more equal and nourishing food system.
The recent Tondu Primary cookery sessions are part of a wider programme of community cooking courses delivered by Cooking Together Wales across the county borough, with the Bridgend Sustainable Food Partnership helping to connect venues and communities.
Cooking Together Wales is designed to build confidence and capability around food; from basic preparation and simple cooking to practical nutrition understanding – supporting wellbeing and helping families make the most of ingredients in affordable, realistic ways.
Sessions delivered in 2025:
- Tanio, Bettws
- BCLC, Cefn Cribbwr
- Tondu Primary
- Baobab Bach, Kenfig Hill
- Noddfa, Caerau
- Afon y Felin, Cornelly
Sessions planned for 2026:
- Bryntirion Primary
- Youth Justice Service
- Penyfai Primary
- Ogmore Vale
- Nantymoel Primary
- Abercerdin Primary
- Bryncethin Primary
- Inspire 2 Achieve
Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Services, Councillor Martyn Jones said: “These sessions are about more than sharing recipes – they’re about confidence, health and giving people practical skills that fit real lives.
“By connecting schools and community venues with Cooking Together Wales, we’re helping more people across Bridgend County Borough access the tools to eat well, waste less and feel good about food.”
Jen Davis from Cooking Together Wales said: “I am really enjoying delivering the cooking workshops with Bridgend Food Partnership. Seeing the children’s enthusiasm for basic ingredients and how they discover new foods and flavours is great.
“Within the community sessions and youth protection projects it’s all about social interaction and gaining confidence.
“Cooking is a great opportunity to relax and open in a safe space, and it’s lovely to watch as the weeks progress how the attendees open up, engage with each other and take a real pride in their cooking.
“We use recipes with basic ingredients to show how easy, nutritious and cheap it can be compared to relying on convenience foods or takeaways.
“We want to encourage people to get out to their local shops and farm producers, and back in the kitchen to create meals to enjoy as a family or group.”
At the end of last year, Bridgend Sustainable Food Partnership was awarded a Bronze Sustainable Food Places Award, recognising the leadership of the partnership in promoting healthy, sustainable and local food across the county borough. The national, evidence-based award celebrates places taking a joined-up approach to “good food”, and reflects the strong foundations built through collaboration between residents, community groups, schools and food businesses to tackle key challenges including food poverty, diet-related ill-health, food waste and support for local producers.
Hosted by Bridgend County Borough Council and supported by Food Sense Wales, the Bridgend Sustainable Food Partnership launched in early 2024 and has recently marked the next stage of its journey with the launch of Bridgend Sustainable Food Partnership, showcasing local projects, resources and ways to get involved.
To learn more about their community and afterschool cooking sessions, visit the Cooking Together Wales website.
