IN THE busy 21st century, far too many of us live on a diet of ready meals and fast food. Little wonder that obesity is reaching alarming proportions, including among children.

With culinary skills seemingly becoming lost, there is a danger of bringing up a generation of children who will never learn to cook properly.

Hempland Primary School in York is doing its best to ensure that doesn’t happen. The school has a dedicated ‘Cook School’ kitchen, where every pupil aged four to 11 has lessons in how to cook using fresh ingredients.

“The children love coming,” said Deirdre Souch, the Cook School coordinator. “Some don’t do any cooking at home and for them it is the first time of getting their hands dirty. If they have seven years at Hempland, they can pick up a lot of good skills.”

It is a wonderful system – one other schools could surely learn from.

Running the Cook School every day so as to ensure all of Hempland’s 420 children get at least four sessions a year needs a lot of hands, however. So the school is appealing for volunteers willing to help.

You don’t need to be a master chef. All that is required is a basic knowledge of cooking – and plenty of enthusiasm. If you have a bit of spare time, what a great way to give something back.