The Punk Chef was putting youngsters from the Phoenix Group for Deaf Children through their culinary paces at Knightsfield School in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire as part of a vegetarian awareness project. Punk Chef (aka Scott Garthwaite) is a global celebrity deaf chef and television presenter. Scott is deaf himself after contracting meningitis at the age of 2.
While studying for his degree, he began to make video blogs in British Sign Language, broadcasting via social media for the deaf community. Punk Chef is a TV cooking series for the deaf community. He said “The programme aims to show the deaf community how easy it is to make simple and tasty meals and that their disability should not be seen as a barrier to learning a new skill, the fact that I’m deaf myself means that I’m able to relate to deaf people on a much more personal level, making it easier to guide them through the cooking process”.
The Phoenix Group for Deaf Children has its base in Stevenage and supports deaf children, young people and their families throughout Hertfordshire. Director of the Phoenix Group, Jane Shann, said that the Punk Chef event was a great example of how the charity encourages deaf young people to be more independent. Having a deaf role model inspiring deaf young people has been a brilliant experience for them – and the food was really tasty too!
For more information you can visit: www.phoenixgroup.org.uk
Photos credit: Paul Whyatt
