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Denise Cook, 67, is a mother of six children from Hemsworth, West Yorkshire. She has 17 grandchildren and seven great granddaughters, so she has spent most of her life caring for others. Due to ill health Denise gave up work as a psychiatric nurse, but got involved in adult learning courses to become IT literate and to help ‘put back’ into her community, and then became involved with Recipes for Life.

Denise’s is just one from a rich vein of powerful, positive and poignant stories to reach out across the generations through Recipes for Life – a ground-breaking West Yorkshire community arts project which will officially launch on 20 March 2012.

The Recipes for Life book, together with an exhibition of its artwork and a film documentation of the project will be launched on 20 March 2012, between 1315-1445 at Hemsworth Town Council Community Centre, Hemsworth, Pontefract.

In Hemsworth – an area of significant social exclusion and deprivation – One to One Development Trust has been working with the Over 55s Group and with West End Primary School to produce a special, creative book called Recipes for Life. It contains healthy eating tips, traditional recipes and anecdotes combined with old photographs of the area, together with children’s illustrations. The Over 55’s Group have also been using media technology and creative exploration to capture their recollections about happiness, good mental health and well being and how these factors link to community, good living and food.

The Recipes for Life project has been led by One to One Development Trust, which provides opportunities and access through media production and engagement with the arts via projects celebrating and promoting culture, heritage, wellbeing, education and diversity. Judi Alston, its creative director and chief executive says:  “Recipes for Life has been an exciting project to come to fruition, the sharing of skills and ideas between the generations has been inspiring to see. A lot of fun has been had making art out of food, cooking and baking – the book is a credit to those who contributed.”

Recipes for Life has been funded through Wakefield Council’s Creative Partner Scheme. Hemsworth District Councillor Glyn Lloyd says: “This project will leave a lasting legacy not just for the participants but for the wider community; this is a great example of community arts working at its best.”

Recipes for Life launch event details:  Tuesday 20 March 2012, 1315-1445, Hemsworth Town Council Community Centre, Bullenshaw Road, Hemsworth, Pontefract, WF9 4NE.

If you would like to attend, please contact Debbie Hyde on: debbie.hyde@onetoonedevelopment.org

Or: 07956 320 486.