A BASINGSTOKE project has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ITV People’s Millions awards – and it is now in with a chance of winning £50,000.

Inspero Love2Grow:Love2Cook will appear on Meridian Tonight this evening during the same week as the other five finalists’ work is showcased. After that, it will be down to the public to decide the winner.

Inspero’s project was set up 18 months ago and supports young people to grow, nurture, harvest, prepare and cook seasonal food.

It supports families in disadvantaged areas and improves their lives by providing activities on healthy eating and living, through a fun educational programme.

Catherine Waters-Clark set up the project after struggling to encourage her son to eat vegetables.

The mother-of-three, from South Ham, said: “Ben was a really fussy eater. We took him to see four different consultants and nothing they put forward worked. I thought ‘what can I do to help him eat healthily?’ It’s worked and his favourite vegetable is now spinach.”

The not-for-profit organisation now has six volunteers who work with around 55 families from the area, planting vegetables at a community garden in Bardwell Close, South Ham, before harvesting them and turning them into delicious meals.

The group were filmed by ITV at the community garden, from 1pm, and at Aldworth School, where they took part in a cookery class learning how to make chicken and leek pie.

Mrs Waters-Clark said: “If we win the money, we will use it to create three part-time jobs.”

The cash would also fund free food growing sessions for young people and cookery classes.

Inspero is also looking to develop ano-ther community garden in Kempshott and the money would be used to set this up, as well as offering work experience to young people.

Mrs Waters-Clark, who works for the Shaw Trust, in Basingstoke, said: “The importance of this project is increasing life skills and cooking skills.

“Kids are learning how to grow food and their attitudes towards healthy eating changes. Some of them don’t know some of the vegetables we grow.”

Voting lines open until midnight tonight. To vote for Love2Grow:Love2Cook call 0871 626 88 76.

For more information visit http://www.peoplesmillions.org.uk/2013-finalists/meridian-west/love2growlove2cook.