Slow cooking has been a central focus of Slough CVS’s energy-saving initiative, delivered in partnership with Cadent Energy. As part of the project, several local community groups—including Art Classes Group, The Sangeet Group Slough, East Berkshire Community Learning & Skills Service, Ujala Foundation, Together As One, Cippenham Carers Group, the SBC Community Detached Team, and Asian Carers Group, worked with local residents, on weekly slow cooking sessions.

These sessions encouraged participants to explore energy-efficient cooking habits, while learning and sharing delicious, budget-friendly recipes. Each group brought its own creativity, cultural influence, and passion to the table, making the sessions not only practical but also vibrant and inclusive.

This week saw the much anticipated launch of the Slough Slow Cooker Cookbook, a collection of recipes created by the groups. The cookbook celebrates both the culinary contributions of local residents and the project’s success in promoting an energy-efficient lifestyle.

Lucy Nembaware, Safeguarding and Community Partnership Lead at Cadent Gas Limited, shared her thoughts at the event:

“One of the unique aspects of working with Slough CVS is their outreach model—engaging a wide range of community organisations to respond to the real needs of the people of Slough. The results of the slow cooker project have been truly inspiring, touching on mental and physical wellbeing, building community unity, and encouraging behaviour change toward energy efficiency. Through creativity, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the community, we’ve seen genuine, positive outcomes. Thank you to everyone involved for your incredible work.”

Shahid Qazi, Wellbeing Project Officer at Slough CVS, expressed his appreciation:

“I am grateful to all the community groups who took part in delivering the slow cooking sessions and for sharing the wonderful recipes that helped us create the Slow Cooker Recipe Book. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to the project, and a special thanks to Cadent’s management for their support. Together, we’ve not only shared an energy-saving message but also made a real impact on people’s everyday lives.”

The project is a shining example of how community-led initiatives can promote practical change, build connections, and promote sustainable habits for the future.

Cadent cookbook
View all the photos from the Slough Slow Cooker Cookbook Launch Event