Jockey Club helps boost family ties with 'kitchen therapy'

07/05/2013

To promote positive communication skills among family members through cooking-related activities, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has since 2010 funded the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), in partnership with the School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong, to run the Happy Family Kitchen, enhancing family health, happiness and harmony.

Today (5 July), the Club’s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So joined Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare Annie Tam, HKCSS Chief Executive Christine Fang and FAMILY Project Principal Investigator Professor T H Lam to officiate at the Happy Family Kitchen II – Family Forum at the Duke of Windsor Social Service Building in Wan Chai.

Mr So said the Project, an integral part of FAMILY: A Jockey Club Initiative for a Harmonious Society, had served some 2,000 families in Yuen Long, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi since its launch in 2010 and the FAMILY Project had promoted the message of caring to nearly 200,000 people. “This Family Forum is a gathering for sharing the Project’s accomplishments. Through panel discussions of veteran stakeholders, we hope to explore new directions of family-based programmes in the future.”

Ms Fang said that with 21 non-governmental organisations and 20 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi participating in the second phase, the Project was a successful collaboration among different professionals to serve youngsters, parents, the elderly, the disabled, families and the community as a whole.

Unveiling its preliminary study findings of the second phase serving some 1,000 families in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi over the past year, Professor Lam said Happy Family Kitchen II had proven effective in enhancing family communication and strengthening participants’ mental health and well-being, as well as promoting a healthy diet.

Several social service professionals, academics and veteran journalist-cum-writer Wat Wing-yin also shared their insights at the Forum.

All activities designed for Happy Family Kitchen are family-based, public health-focused, evidence-based and can generate evidence in search for the right service model. They are conducted by local community groups and the welfare and academic sectors, involving professionals such as clinical psychologists, veteran social workers, registered dieticians and academics. Front-line social workers are also provided with training to help them organise various family activities.

FAMILY: A Jockey Club Initiative for a Harmonious Society is a citywide project launched by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with HK$250 million funding, in collaboration with the School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong.  The Project aims to identify the sources of family problems, devise suitable preventive measures and promote the “3Hs” through a citywide household survey, intervention projects and public education programmes. Further details of FAMILY are available at http://www.family.org.hk/.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world's leading horse racing organisations but also a world top 15 charitable organisation and Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.7 billion in 2012. It is also a major taxpayer, Hong Kong's single largest by far, generating over HK$16 billion a year for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious, with more than 23,000 members. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.