A kitchen where low-income families can learn to cook healthily on a budget has been opened by a charity.
Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE) has installed the facility as part of its expanded Aberdeen headquarters.
The social enterprise and charity helps thousands of people struggling to afford to feed themselves.
Demand for its food bank service has rocketed as the impact of the oil and gas industry slump bites in households across the region.
Now it hopes the community cookshop will allow it to ease the pressure by teaching people cost-effective recipes.
Known as “Cook at the ‘Nook” after its Poynerrook Road location, kitchen was officially opened by MSP Kevin Stewart.
CFINE chief executive Dave Simmers said: “The new offices and Cook at the ‘Nook both impact significantly in increasing our capacity and ability to respond effectively to the range of complex needs and challenges our thousands of beneficiaries experience.
“The kitchen will allow cooking training for people with low skills and incomes, providing recipes and practical experience of healthy cooking on a budget while reducing waste.
“It is a fantastic, much needed facility.”
The Scottish Government has given the outfit more than £500,000 and Aberdeen Central MSP Mr Stewart, a government minister, said the new premises would aid its “vital work”.
Money for the kitchen came from the Landfill Community Fund.
The space became available when the Aberdeen Forward charity, which shared the building, merged with CFINE.
Councillor Martin Greig, who chaired Aberdeen Forward, said: “The community kitchen is a really positive event because it offers a variety of useful skills and experiences for many”.
