Waste not, want not workshop series: Different ways with mince

What you’ll learn

Mince is one of the most budget-friendly, versatile ingredients you can buy, and in this workshop, you’ll discover just how many different meals you can create with it. Working in pairs, you’ll make four complete dishes, learn essential kitchen skills, and leave with the confidence to adapt these recipes at home. Please note vegetarian options will be available, you must let us know on the booking form under ‘Anything else we need to know?’.

The four dishes we’ll make together:

🥧 Cottage pie with swede and potato topping (using beef mince)
Classic comfort food with a twist—discover how mixing swede with potato creates a delicious, economical topping that stretches further than potato alone.

🥟 Homemade pasties (using beef or chicken mince)
Learn to make proper pastry and create portable, freezer-friendly meals. Perfect for packed lunches or quick dinners—and so much cheaper than shop-bought!

🌶️ Vegetarian chilli (using quorn mince)
Discover how meat-free mince can be just as satisfying and flavourful while being gentler on your budget. Perfect for Meat-Free Mondays or feeding vegetarian family members.

🍝 Meatballs in tomato sauce (using pork mince)
Learn to make tender, flavourful meatballs from scratch—great with pasta, in subs, or on their own. You’ll never buy frozen meatballs again!

All recipes are designed for 2 people, making them easy to scale up or down for your household.

• 2-hour hands-on cooking workshop (10:00am – 12:00pm)
• All ingredients provided for four complete dishes
• Work in pairs for supported learning
• Expert instruction from experienced cook
• Comprehensive kitchen safety and hygiene guidance
• Recipe cards for all four dishes to take home
• Tasting session—try everything you’ve made!
• Take home any leftovers if available
• Practical tips for cooking and freezing at home
• Q&A session to answer your specific questions

Workshop details

Grow, Cook, Share, Care is a Hands of Hope programme engaging vulnerable groups, those with complex needs, families, especially those living in food poverty, and older people, in learning, wellness and social activities aligned to growing, cooking, and nature.

Suitable for all. Priority for spaces will be given to people meeting the criteria: aged over 50, young carers and young adults with learning disabilities.

There is no charge for this workshop, donations are always welcome!

Please ensure you arrive ten minutes before the start time to ensure we can get everyone registered, and please bring a container to take your home your goodies.

Each participant must book individually so we can monitor eligibility and ensure we’re fully prepared for everyone attending the workshop.

Every year in the UK, we throw away 6.6 million tonnes of household food waste – much of it perfectly good produce that simply wasn’t used in time. Meanwhile, the cost of living continues to rise, and many of us are looking for practical ways to make our food budget stretch further while eating well.

Over a series of two hour workshops, you’ll learn time-tested techniques for preserving seasonal produce – whether it’s from your garden, local markets, or those yellow-sticker bargains that represent genuine savings and rescue perfectly good food from unnecessary waste.

Eating seasonally isn’t just about saving money or reducing waste (though it does both beautifully). Seasonal eating connects us to the natural rhythms of the year, often provides better nutrition and flavour, and supports local growers and sustainable farming practices. When we preserve food at its peak, we capture not just its taste, but its nutritional value too.

By the end of each workshop, you’ll have the confidence to turn surplus into treasure – transforming those “too good to waste” moments into a well-stocked cupboard that serves you year-round.