Reach Cornwall is offering a free ‘Food and Nutrition for Care’ online course to professional chefs, cooks or kitchen staff within the hospitality sector that are looking for work.

The scheme could secure participants a new role cooking in care homes and is linked with specialists from Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group, and food connoisseurs.

In light of COVID-19 circumstances, the aim is to encourage people out of work to utilise their skills to help the care sector in Cornwall, which is in desperate need of support.

Reach Cornwall has a substantial network of residential care and nursing homes that are all seeking extra help due to upcoming potential staff shortages.

The course will cover an introduction to the theory around planning meals for those who might be elderly, disabled or have conditions that make eating more challenging, considering factors such as texture, calorie content, nutrition, and the mechanics of eating.

The idea is that participants will leave with knowledge they can apply when cooking nutritious, inspiring food that can be altered to fit a wide range of individual needs.

After the session, Reach will contact healthcare organisations on the basis that participants are willing to offer their services on either a paid or voluntary service.

The first course will run this Friday, April 3, from 10am to 1pm.

A Reach Cornwall spokesperson said: "If you have found yourself out of work due to business closures and think you could make a difference in the health or social care sector, organisations need your help more than ever."

To register for the online course visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/101202553562

The course will also run again on April 9 via https://2ndfoodforcare.eventbrite.co.uk