I was shocked to find out just how big a problem it is in Plymouth and across the UK and decided that I wanted my project to focus on those issues.
The U.F.O. works by providing meals to children who are at risk of malnutrition through the holidays. It teaches them how to cook easy, cheap and varied meals which they can then cook at home and teach their families to make as well. The idea is for the U.F.O.s to be funded by local food businesses who help with the upkeep and running of the fleet, in exchange for access to trailers for their own businesses.
The U.F.O.s themselves, as the name suggests, roughly resembles an alien spaceship.
It consists of a stainless-steel grill in the middle, which is surrounded by individual tables and chairs for the children to use as preparation stations.
A spinning service ring between the tables and grill means ingredients can easily be passed around the whole group, and there are even hidden sinks so the children can wash up afterwards.
Throughout the project I had help from my tutors, technicians and peers to get important advice on both the systems required and the technical elements. That’s what’s great about the course – there are many people to talk to and bounce ideas off to really get an outcome you are happy with.
The interview for the competition was an interesting new obstacle, as my model was at the University and I couldn’t meet face-to-face with my tutors for help. They did, however, give me a lot of support via Zoom calls, which really helped for the Zoom interview that I did later on.
“It is exciting to think of a project going from concept to reality.”
