Inmates cooking up a storm at Hydebank

Inmates at a young offenders’ centre in Northern Ireland have opened a pop-up restaurant focusing on healthy eating and showcasing produce that has been grown on-site.

The Cooking Behind Bars initiative at Hydebank Wood is aimed at helping young inmates to break the cycle of re-offending. Those involved in the scheme learn the basic skills involved in running a restaurant, including organisation, food hygiene, knife and cooking skills and marketing.

A total of 16 men took part in the scheme at the end of May. They had already worked in the prison café, had good disciplinary records and were mature, according to governor, Austin Treacy.

“Not to put too fine a point on it, I think it will be transformational,” said Mr. Treacy recently. “It’s much more than preparing meat and two veg, it’s all the stuff you see on the TV shows.”

Hydebank itself is also looking to become more self-sufficient. Some of the produce which it uses are now grown on its own grounds and the inmates are responsible for looking after their own chickens and goats.

Inmates on the scheme cooked for their families, staff at the centre and other students.