Testimonials
Francine is passionate about cooking and conveys her enthusiasm to all. Adults and children loved the course, without exception. It was fantastic to see them working together and to hear their enthusiasm for the simple, healthy recipes.
I would love to reach more families in our community with this excellent, professional (yet 'down to earth') teaching.
Jane Atkins
Headteacher
Avon Primary School
I would love to reach more families in our community with this excellent, professional (yet 'down to earth') teaching.
Jane Atkins
Headteacher
Avon Primary School
The cooking evening provided by All About Food formed part of a Leadership development programme and really shone a spotlight on the habitual behaviours of members of the group, providing another opportunity for learning and growing self awareness.
It was great fun for a team who were very tired at the end of a tough business year and who had been working intensively on the programme during the day.
There was a genuine challenge in that they had to eat what they produced and some of the recipes required concentration, accuracy and presentation skills, not to mention teamwork. In addition, there was the competition of which team would produce the best course, added to by tasting games and a culinary quiz.
Finally, the evening had a very convivial feeling to it and there was something very levelling about seeing a group of senior leaders in the organisation preparing food for each other and serving it with quite a bit of pride and, even, some finesse! (and the food tasted great!).
Sally Bogle
Transcape Coaching facilitating For Unite PLC
It was great fun for a team who were very tired at the end of a tough business year and who had been working intensively on the programme during the day.
There was a genuine challenge in that they had to eat what they produced and some of the recipes required concentration, accuracy and presentation skills, not to mention teamwork. In addition, there was the competition of which team would produce the best course, added to by tasting games and a culinary quiz.
Finally, the evening had a very convivial feeling to it and there was something very levelling about seeing a group of senior leaders in the organisation preparing food for each other and serving it with quite a bit of pride and, even, some finesse! (and the food tasted great!).
Sally Bogle
Transcape Coaching facilitating For Unite PLC
Providing our children with a healthy start and helping them get into early healthy eating habits is so important. The Cook4Life course was a great way of providing our parents with practical tips and advice; giving many the opportunity to cook for the first time and take home a freshly cooked meal for the whole family.
No matter what past experience you had, Francine made cooking fun and accessible for all. It was fantastic watching our parents grow in confidence as they tried new foods and began to realise the benefits and fun of home-cooking.
It was so encouraging to hear the parents discuss their use of the recipes at home and see their delight in the children's positive responses. From all the positive comments I'm sure they'll all continue to enjoy their cooking journeys at home!
Jennifer Cope
Family Support Worker
Lockleaze Primary School & Early Years Centre
No matter what past experience you had, Francine made cooking fun and accessible for all. It was fantastic watching our parents grow in confidence as they tried new foods and began to realise the benefits and fun of home-cooking.
It was so encouraging to hear the parents discuss their use of the recipes at home and see their delight in the children's positive responses. From all the positive comments I'm sure they'll all continue to enjoy their cooking journeys at home!
Jennifer Cope
Family Support Worker
Lockleaze Primary School & Early Years Centre
Francine worked with us to develop and then deliver the very successful 'Cooking from Scratch' project in Bristol. Her inspiration, quality of work and commitment was second to none and resulted in the project receiving a national award from the Food Standards Agency. Francine demonstrated an amazing capacity to engage with a wide range of groups on this project, from the elderly... to teenagers with behavioral issues, showing exceptional skills in developing appropriate sessions and then managing and delivering to a very high standard.
Grace Davies
Senior EHO Food & Health
Bristol City Council
Grace Davies
Senior EHO Food & Health
Bristol City Council
Francine Russell - She is unique, thoroughly professional, with high standards and a positive 'can do' approach to everything. I have worked with Francine many times over the last 10 years and have always found her to be conscientious, meticulous to detail and completely reliable. Not only does Francine develop and deliver cooking classes/courses, she is always a major player in both the planning process and the recruitment of participants. Encouraging adoption of a healthy diet as well as minimising unhealthy diets is a key aspect of her courses.
In terms of taking a public health approach Francine is well aware of the relationship between nutrition and health and of the importance of reducing health inequalities.
Liz Fox
Senior Lead on Food & Health
NHS Bristol
In terms of taking a public health approach Francine is well aware of the relationship between nutrition and health and of the importance of reducing health inequalities.
Liz Fox
Senior Lead on Food & Health
NHS Bristol
When I attended Cooking For Scratch my only regret was I hadn't done this course at the start of my time as a Life Skills Worker at Second Step. My confidence and knowledge of how to teach people to prepare healthy meals increased and led me to completely change the way I ran groups and one to one sessions; feedback I received from service users following these changes was positive.
Lesley Greig
Support Worker
Intensive Tenancy Support
Lesley Greig
Support Worker
Intensive Tenancy Support
Francine is like the tin of paint advert 'She does what she says she does!!' You arrange a piece of work with her and you get all you wanted and more besides! She will work independently and never let you down. Couple this with her skill, knowledge and enthusiasm and you are on a winner every time!
Young people and kids have loved her sessions!!
Brian Hall
South 1 Extended Services Manager
Young people and kids have loved her sessions!!
Brian Hall
South 1 Extended Services Manager
Over the last 5 years I have got to know Francine through the work she has been doing with Bristol City Council and partners on projects aimed at improving the some of the most vulnerable communities diet and nutrition, such as the Cooking from Scratch projects.
Francine has shown an amazing commitment to making a success of the projects she has developed and worked on and has always been very friendly, professional and extremely committed to getting the job done to an extremely high standard. Francine had a major role in Bristol being awarded National Food Champion for improving community diet and nutrition 2008-10 especially for the her work with the cooking from scratch projects.
Adrian Jenkins
Public Health Services Manager
Bristol City Council
Francine has shown an amazing commitment to making a success of the projects she has developed and worked on and has always been very friendly, professional and extremely committed to getting the job done to an extremely high standard. Francine had a major role in Bristol being awarded National Food Champion for improving community diet and nutrition 2008-10 especially for the her work with the cooking from scratch projects.
Adrian Jenkins
Public Health Services Manager
Bristol City Council
Francine put together a course to suit our precise needs. The young people involved learned a lot and came away with valuable skills and knowledge of both cooking and nutrition. Francine is an absolute star!
Lucy Mackilligin
Home Education Learning Project
Lucy Mackilligin
Home Education Learning Project
"I really enjoyed the whole experience, the atmosphere was relaxed and it was nice to work with colleagues in a different setting"
"Most definitely great to get everyone working together, an enjoyable experience"
"Yes it involved a lot of teamwork and communiation"
"Everything about it was excellent, well organised and the food was delicious. I really enjoyed the spice quiz"
Team Building Day
NHS Bristol
"Most definitely great to get everyone working together, an enjoyable experience"
"Yes it involved a lot of teamwork and communiation"
"Everything about it was excellent, well organised and the food was delicious. I really enjoyed the spice quiz"
Team Building Day
NHS Bristol
Delivering projects in the community can present its very own set of challenges. Francine's experience, knowledge and infectious enthusiasm have been instrumental in the success of our Cooking from Scratch Projects.
Simon Melican
Principal Environmental Health Officer
Bristol City Council
Simon Melican
Principal Environmental Health Officer
Bristol City Council
Francine has led projects in schools on behalf of Ablaze and a major sponsoring company. The impact has been entirely positive and we recognise her high level of professionalism, tenacity and excellent customer service which led to her work making a significant contribution to local communities.
Roger Opie
CEO
Ablaze
Roger Opie
CEO
Ablaze
I found the Cooking from Scratch course an invaluable resource. The focus on affordable, quick but nutritious meals (using everyday ingredients) has enabled me to work effectively with clients to improve their diet without their having to make radical and unrealistic changes. Many thanks, would strongly recommend the course.
Annie Pollock
Senior Information and Advice Worker
Brigstowe Project
Annie Pollock
Senior Information and Advice Worker
Brigstowe Project
Parent - The course has been really good and e've done lots of things. They've been nice and simple and easy to follw. All the children have definitely enjoyed it.
They have eaten things they wouldn't normally, as they made them, themselves and then we've done the recipes again at home.
Child - we should do it again.
Parent (Dad) - It's an ideal course for Emily as she loves cooking, but it's good for parents to do things with their child. We don't often cook things from scratch and she's shown us simple ways to do it...and you get to eat your labours - on lots of cookery courses you only get shown.
Child - I can chop veg without cutting my finger.
Child - I now know how to make pizza dough.
Parent - I've loved it and I haven't had to cook tea on a Tuesday.
Parent - The children have tried new foods.
Avon Primary School
They have eaten things they wouldn't normally, as they made them, themselves and then we've done the recipes again at home.
Child - we should do it again.
Parent (Dad) - It's an ideal course for Emily as she loves cooking, but it's good for parents to do things with their child. We don't often cook things from scratch and she's shown us simple ways to do it...and you get to eat your labours - on lots of cookery courses you only get shown.
Child - I can chop veg without cutting my finger.
Child - I now know how to make pizza dough.
Parent - I've loved it and I haven't had to cook tea on a Tuesday.
Parent - The children have tried new foods.
Avon Primary School
Can I just say that I wanted to extend to you my thanks for your recent course? As you know I support older people to live alone and cook without any help. Your input and guidance made my group work a great deal easier and gave me a better programme for my clients.
Thank you for your extra special care and support. Good luck to all those that follow, I am sure that they will also enjoy the course as much as I did.
Debra Wyatt
Group worker for older people and student support worker
Downend day centre
Thank you for your extra special care and support. Good luck to all those that follow, I am sure that they will also enjoy the course as much as I did.
Debra Wyatt
Group worker for older people and student support worker
Downend day centre