Our Special Cook Along With Celebrity Guests!

Olympic cycling hero Ed Clancy OBE and legendary chef Rosemary Shrager recently teamed up with Community Integrated Care to inspire cooking and healthy lifestyles.

One of Britain’s most loved celebrity chefs, Rosemary Shrager, was joined by triple Olympic gold cycling hero, Ed Clancy OBE, for a special live cook-along aimed to empower people who draw on care and support, to develop skills in the kitchen and enjoy healthier lifestyles. The free session was part of our charity’s Care To Cook campaign.

The virtual experience took place on our inclusive experiences platform, www.What-To-Do.co.uk which can be used by anyone who draws on care and support.

Empowering Lives Across the Nation

Rosemary, along with more than 80 people who draw on social care across the UK, came together to cook a delicious, classic cottage pie. They were joined by Ed Clancy – one of Britain’s greatest Olympians – who visited Community Integrated Care’s Arncliffe Extra Care service in Halewood to cook alongside people supported by the charity. During the event, he inspired participants with practical tips on the wellbeing benefits of healthy food, told stories from his cycling career, and spoke about how cycling is an accessible sport that everyone can enjoy.

Care To Cook is a unique campaign developed by our charity, that empowers people who draw on care and support to enjoy cooking with confidence, supporting them and their families and professional cares. The www.CareToCook.co.uk hub offers unique free, accessible resources – including Easy Read cookbooks, step-by-step videos, and specialist support guides. The campaign is brought to life with regular free cook along experiences with celebrity and professional chefs that are delivered live on www.What-To-Do.co.uk.

Rosemary Shrager is a founding ambassador for Care To Cook. She shares a passion for cycling, recently completing an inspirational 450-mile “Two Wheels for Meals” challenge from Land’s End to Dover at the age of 74, raising funds for food-poverty charities – an experience she says has transformed her outlook on diet and exercise.

Ed Clancy supported the experience on behalf of British Cycling and the British Cycling Foundation, as part of their growing partnership with our charity, to inspire and enable people who draw on social care through the power of cycling.

Proud Partners

John Hughes, Director of Partnerships & Communities, Community Integrated Care, said, “We’re thrilled to have united two national heroes for a truly inclusive food and wellbeing experience. Care To Cook has already enabled hundreds of people to discover the joy and independence of cooking, with Rosemary’s cook-alongs truly inspiring and enabling our communities. With the added inspiration of Ed’s knowledge of health and nutrition, this experience was truly inspirational.”

Rosemary Shrager, said, “I’m incredibly proud to be an ambassador for Community Integrated Care’s Care To Cook campaign. This campaign means everything to me. I believe that every person should have the opportunity to enjoy the joy of cooking. Care to Cook makes this happen by focussing on simple, accessible and affordable recipes that are a pleasure to make. It is my honour to have the platform to inspire and connect with so many people with this special charity. After completing my 450-mile cycling challenge this summer, I’ve also fallen in love with the bike and I’m passionate about the link between good food and moving more. Cycling really is for everyone, and it’s been an honour to work alongside Ed.”

Ed Clancy OBE, triple Olympic champion and Managing Director of the British Cycling Foundation, said, “This is a brilliant example of how British Cycling can use the power of the bike to inspire healthier lives. The growing partnership between our sport and Community Integrated Care is really creating a genuine social impact and this illustrates the creativity and innovation behind it. As a former athlete, I know the impact that good food and exercise can have on health and wellbeing, so I feel proud to have the chance to be a role model in this important theme. It was also an honour to work with the legendary Rosemary Shrager as we help more people access simple, healthy cooking and the joy of cycling.”