Katie one of our Time for Tea Participants has enjoyed finding a safe space to cook and socialise at the Community Kitchen.
Katie is one of our long-established Dementia-friendly cookery participants. She dependably joins us for each session and brings joy to the kitchen with her kind smile, wicked humour and cookery know-how. Her daughter Petra, with whom she lives, collects her, and often stops for a chat or a taste of whatever we have cooked that week. Petra will sometimes ask for recipes to be emailed home so they can make them again – the latest being our festive ginger cake. Katie is always so keen to get going with the cookery and loves being able to take ownership of a recipe. The nature of her Dementia means she is now limited with what she can cook at home – she recently suffered a cookery related injury whilst using the hob. She tells us that being in our kitchen has provided her the time, space and support to safely do an activity she loves.
“My daughter Petra was the one who found out about the cookery club – she knows I love cooking, and I wanted to meet some new people. I was so enthusiastic about coming along! I can’t cook much at home anymore – I burnt myself recently and I’m worried it might happen again – being able to have the space to cook safely has been wonderful.
There are always friendly, helpful people to work with – especially the staff and volunteers – they are never condescending and allow us the space to cook in the session. Socialising has really helped me, there is always time to chat around the table. I have really felt the benefit to my mental health, it makes me so happy to be here.
I’ve learnt how to hold a knife properly which has been great. I like that there’s lots of vegetarian recipes – I really enjoyed the Squash, Apple and Rosemary soup. I’m not veggie so it’s nice to have a change – to try something new.
Since starting at Time for Tea, I have also found out about other local groups – such as the gardening group also run by yourselves, which I attended throughout the summer and loved. I also regularly attend social events at The Bevy – I’ve been going along for about 6 months now – every Friday there is a meal on offer as well as bingo and a raffle”.
Help us continue to provide our Community Cookery Classes and Courses:
- Donations: Your financial support can help ensure the kitchen’s continued operation and reach more individuals in need.
- Attend a Class: Buy a ticket for one of our evening and weekend classes and learn new cooking techniques from some of Brighton & Hove’s best chefs and cookery teachers.
- Hire the Space: Host your next event at the Community Kitchen and contribute to its mission. We host Team Building events, hen do’s, community groups and parties.
