Compass will bring its culinary expertise to the Temple Street Foundation’s W82GO programme - set up to provide families with guidance and a safe environment to help them achieve the healthiest lifestyle possible - as part of the partnership.
Audrey Foley, managing director at Compass Group Ireland, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with Temple Street Foundation. They really are such an inspirational organisation. Promoting healthy eating is a natural fit for us. It’s something we think about every day when designing our menus and through our work with clients.
“We are thrilled to bring our culinary expertise to the organisation and be helping to provide the knowledge and know-how to families who need the support. Food is fun, it’s something a family can enjoy together and I hope our lessons will help families see the love and joy cooking can bring.”
The 7 week W82GO course, delivered by a multidisciplinary team comprised of a Paediatrician, Dietician, Nurse, Chartered Physiotherapist and a Clinical Psychologist, will provide families with information on healthy eating, the importance of physical fitness, self-esteem and managing supermarket shopping.
The addition of practical cooking sessions will see families receiving practical guidance and support around food preparation and cooking and aims to debunk myths around the price of cooking meals from scratch.
Denise Fitzgerald, CEO of Temple Street Foundation, added: “The partnership with Compass is going to work with us on so many levels. As well as supporting our fundraising efforts, their expert chefs are teaching some of our families the key skills in food preparation and healthy cooking.
“By being able to teach them the basics and give them confidence through the Compass cooking session, we hope it will help the families on the W82GO programme to make positive changes to their lifestyles that will see long term health benefits.”
As one of its first fundraising initiatives for the charity, Compass Ireland has announced that all proceeds from its “guilt free” Halloween brownie, being sold at sites across its business, will go to Temple Street Foundation.
The new W82GO cooking session, will formally form part of the programme from January 2017.