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Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food will open its doors to the public at 12.30pm on Friday 25 June, at the Leeds Kirkgate Market. It’s part of a partnership between NHS Leeds, Leeds City Council and Zest Health for Life.

The official launch will see key dignitaries from NHS Leeds and Leeds City Council gathering in the Ministry to cut the ribbon including local MP Hillary Benn.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s Richard Pryah, former Leeds Rhinos star Ikram Butt and ITV Calendar News presenter Vicky Locklin will be attending the launch. All three will be getting involved in a ‘pass it on’ exercise and trying their hand at cooking a delicious salmon tikka. The event will also see free cooking demonstrations taking place using Jamie Oliver’s recipes and ingredients sourced from within the market.

The idea behind the ‘pass it on’ exercise is to inspire people who have never cooked to give it a try and then, once they've learned a recipe, to teach two other people how to make it too.

Following a visit from Jamie Oliver earlier this month, Leeds locals have already started to sign up for the cookery courses the Ministry will provide. Ten week cookery courses will be delivered in a specially developed kitchen, by staff trained by Jamie’s team. They will use a range of ingredients largely sourced from the Kirkgate market itself which will ensure people on the cookery course can find everything they need to replicate at home what they’ve learned with their friends, neighbours or families.

Jamie Oliver said: “I’m absolutely delighted that NHS Leeds alongside Leeds City Council have decided to open the third Ministry of Food in this great city. It’s fantastic that Yorkshire is pioneering change and I feel sure that Leeds' Ministry of Food will be as important and popular as the Ministries in Rotherham and Bradford. Ministries of Food have a vital role to play at a time when problems of obesity and other food-related problems are putting such a strain on our NHS. Teaching children and adults how to cook nutritious, easy, affordable and delicious meals for themselves and their families should be a high priority for every city council in Britain and it’s great to see Leeds investing in its future.”

John Lawlor, Chief Executive of NHS Leeds added: “This is a fantastic project and I am delighted to see it established in Leeds. The Ministry of Food has already produced a number of success stories around Yorkshire, and I am confident that it will be the same in Leeds.”

“We recognise that cooking healthy and nutritious meals on a budget is difficult, however with help from this great project, people can learn how to cook quick and healthy meals that will feed the whole family.”

Ikram Butt will take part in a fun cook-off against Ministry of Food Leeds staff and also members of the public chosen at random. Food will be prepared ready for the participants to learn how to cook one of Jamie’s recipes, before passing it on to someone else. The cooking will be coordinated by Ministry of Food Leeds staff who have been trained by Jamie Oliver’s staff.

Ikram, who now works with the Leeds Rugby Foundation said: “This really is a fantastic project and one that I am sure will be a success in Leeds.

As a former rugby player, I under the importance of eating healthily and also how important it is that people have the opportunity to learn how to eat and cook healthy meal. Innovative projects such as the Ministry of Food are a great way to do that. Not only can people learn to cook in Kirkgate Market, but afterwards, they can buy the ingredients used in the lesson from within the market itself.”

Councillor Mark Dobson, Leeds Kirkgate Market champion said: “It is fantastic that Leeds Kirkgate market has been chosen as a base for the opening of Jamie’s Ministry of Food. It is in a great spot allowing people taking part access to fresh produce and healthy eating options.

“I am sure the cookery lessons will provide very popular and serve as an aid to teaching people about the easy but healthy options there are available, and where to buy well priced fresh produce at the market.”

Anyone interested in signing up to Jamie’s Ministry of Food Leeds can do so by visiting www.leeds.nhs.uk/ministry_of_food  

Notes

Ministry of Food will be a boost to other healthy food projects run in Leeds. In the middle of October, the Holbeck Community Food Market won an award for Improving Health and Reducing Inequalities at the Leeds Health Star Awards and the Ministry of Food project aims to be just as successful.

Estimated costs to the NHS in Leeds of diseases related to overweight and obesity were 197.4 million in 2007 and predicted to be 204.9 million by 2010. The Ministry of Food is just one of a range of initiatives which will contribute to reducing the impact of obesity in the city.

Jamie Oliver makes no money from any Ministry of Food centre. These centres are chiefly funded by local councils and NHS Trusts to provide cooking lessons for local people to be able to cook quick, simple, delicious, affordable and nutritious meals.