A Devon-wide health and wellbeing charity, based near Exeter, is seeking support from businesses and volunteers in the ‘final push’ for a new venture that will offer free workshops to teach people of all ages how to prepare nutritious meals from scratch with simple, affordable ingredients – at a time when cooking healthily, cost-effectively and sustainably has never been more important.
The idea of creating a bespoke teaching kitchen at Westbank Community Health and Care began simmering away a year ago following the Covid lockdowns. During the pandemic, the charity distributed food boxes with fresh produce, and many recipients said they lacked the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make meals with the vegetables and store cupboard ingredients they had been gifted.
Since then, the sharp rise in the cost of living has forced many households, particularly those on low incomes, to stretch their grocery budget even further. Bulk cooking, preparing meals from scratch, and minimising waste are simple ways to feed a family more affordably.
After securing a pot of fundraising for the remodelling, Westbank began transforming an empty café at its Exminster HQ into a community teaching kitchen, purpose-built to host cookery workshops for people of all ages – with the initial focus on young parents, low-income families and older, isolated people. The Community Cookery School at Westbank is almost ready to launch.
Chris Bloye, Westbank’s Head of Business Services and Operations, has a background in catering, hospitality and the fitness industry, and has overseen the remodelling to create a bespoke teaching kitchen with one height-adjustable workstation. Chris says, “Within the space of a year, we have turned the seed of an idea into reality and we’re preparing to welcome our first learners. The kitchen looks great and is almost ready to go. We’re now looking for businesses to provide further sponsorship, supplement our supplies of ingredients or help us with all the necessary kit and equipment. We would also love to hear from people willing to give their time to support our staff in delivering the workshops.”
CEO Sarah Hicks adds, “Westbank has been improving the lives of people in Devon since 1986, working with an established network of over 50 partners with whom we deliver health and social care contracts and other wellbeing initiatives. This is an opportunity for us to respond to people’s needs and circumstances in a different way by helping them make the most of their food, encouraging them to get creative in the kitchen and share their new skills with others. Ultimately, this will bring long-term health and well-being benefits for all involved.”
The project has already received generous support totalling almost £74,500 from the Edward Gostling Foundation, Morrisons Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund/Awards for All England, Hubbub/Starbucks, 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, Veronica Awdry Charitable Trust, The Misses Barrie Charitable Trust and Waitrose.
Nikki Bromley, Westbank’s Community Services Manager, is responsible for course content and delivery. She says, “We welcome gifts and donations of any size and hope people will really get behind this initiative. Our 8-week courses will start by teaching basic food hygiene and showing how to prepare wholesome sauces that can be adapted to create a variety of meals on a tight budget. By reducing people’s reliance on expensive produce like meat and enabling them to make more nutritious versions of their favourite takeaway meals at a fraction of the cost, we aim to make a real difference.”
A series of ‘taster sessions’ are being held over the summer for the charity’s staff and volunteers. The Community Cookery School at Westbank will be launched officially in the autumn.
For further information, please contact Katie Elliott, Westbank’s Head of Fundraising, or visit www.westbank.org.uk.
(Photo by Sharon Goble – Some of the team getting creative in the new Community Cookery School at Westbank with (l to r) Sarah Wing, CEO Sarah Hicks, Nikki Bromley, Leanne Chidgey and Chris Bloye).
