“Being part of the community, building confidence as a group and connection with other people has kept me coming back”
The Community Kitchen is a cookery school where everyone can cook, learn new skills, connect with their community, and enjoy food together.
We spoke to Hannah, a participant who has regularly attended classes at the Community Kitchen. Taking part in Community Classes has helped her get creative in the kitchen, learn about new ingredients, and make connections with her community. She told us that our community cookery classes leave her with a renewed sense of optimism and boosted morale.
“Its been amazing to learn about different ingredients and combinations that I hadn’t thought to use. Not only that the teaching is very clear, meaning I can use the recipes and tips flexibly at home.”
Hannah particularly enjoys our Food Use Sessions, where we get creative with surplus food, provided by Fareshare and our own store cupboard. As she explains “It’s so inspiring to see how we can transform leftover ingredients using the recipes and techniques I’ve learned here. Food waste is a massive issue, so learning to be creative with surplus is truly wonderful”. In recent Food Use Sessions Hannah has made charred cabbage with herby beans, homemade “snyckers”, delicious soups and our any vegetable curry.
“The Food Use sessions allow for real creativity with recipes so you can create something truly delicious. Food waste is a massive issue so being able to be creative with surplus & leftovers is wonderful.”
Hannah has also attended community consultation sessions, a meeting with existing community participants to get fresh ideas and learn how we can adapt & improve existing sessions. She found the willingness to implement community participants ideas “tremendously encouraging”. Hannah has since attended brand new sessions suggested in those meetings, our low cost world cuisine sessions. One of which was South Indian cookery with Chef Kanthi. As she explains “I came to an Indian community class, learning how to use whole spices and new ingredients was eye opening.” She found it particularly useful how Chef Kanthi took participants through how to adapt and use the recipes with readily available ingredients.
“I would definitely recommend the community kitchen, there is always a wonderful welcome, the sessions are very well tailored, I always learn something new and its wonderful to chat and work with new people.”
Help us run more community cookery sessions:
- Donations: Your financial support can help ensure the kitchen’s continued operation and reach more individuals in need.
- Volunteering: Lend your time and skills to help run the kitchen’s programs.
- 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.
Our Food Use sessions are part of the Food Use Places project funded by the National Lottery Climate Action Fund.
