COOKERY IN PRISON.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 54, 4 November 1913, Page 4

COOKERY IN PRISON.

Cookery classes for women .prisoners are the latest idea at the British Home Office. They are to lie started ;>i Aylesbury Prison, where a largo kitchen has boon provided for the purpose. Owing t" the necessary building alteration only a comparatively small number of girls have, up to the present, boon taught by the cookwardresses. In the future an expert may possibly visit the prison in order to give lessons. At- present (writes

a London correspondent! the cookwardresses undergo a training at the National Training School of\Cookery. Tito prisoners are taught household cookery, and some of them can already serve up a very good meal. Their own diet does not give the experience desired, but tie y have moro scope in cooking for the officials. There will lie no scope for working off grudges against the staff. The Prisoner Commissioners hope that in the future it may be possible to issue certificates to the women prisoners. The girls are sent to the prison under the Borstal system between the ages of 16 and 21, and it is believed they will make valuable servants when trained. Besides cookery, the girls are taught housework, needlework, dressmaking, lanndrywork, and gardening. So popular lias horticulture proved among the prisoners that a large field lias lately been added to the existing garden. Situations are found for the girls when they leave prison, and many of them are doing well in domestic service, in laundries, and in one case in a restaurant. They make their own outfits before leaving prison.