“I’m autistic and I have sensory processing to textures and tastes. The cooking classes have helped me come out of my comfort zone and learn new skills. I also eat a wider variety of textures and flavours now, whereas before I just had my safe foods”
The Community Kitchen offers a safe space for people to socialise, learn new skills and expand their food horizons. Emily sat down with us to describe her journey of discovery and bonding with her son at the kitchen. She explained how attending classes has helped her eat new foods (from fresh fish to spices), meet new people, improve her confidence in the kitchen and cook more with her son.
“I used to buy ready meals and never cooked from scratch, now I do all the time. I feel much more confidence to adapt recipes, we love to add our favourite veggies to the enchilada recipe we learnt together at the kitchen… I always use the hand blender I received at a class to make soups and my sons favourite hummus.”
Emily has attended a wide variety of classes at the Community Kitchen from Batch and Low Energy Cooking to one off seasonal classes, including Seafood Skills with Pat from Riddle & Finns. She now has a wide variety of skills and recipes for every occasion, is less reliant on ready meals and saves money by swapping ingredients in family favourite recipes.
Emily also attends our School Holiday Family Sessions, alongside her teenage son, for children who receive benefits-related free school meals (funded by Brighton & Hove City Council through the HAF project). Her son has ADHD, Autism and Tourretes, Community Kitchen sessions are the only thing that gets him excited to leave the house during school holidays.
“My son is usually at home in his comfort zone, so coming to the kitchen and cooking alongside him out of the house is invaluable and a real bonding moment for us. They are really fond memories and moments. He eats stuff here he has never eaten before, he absolutely loves it.”
As well as supporting her son and helping her to learn new skills, its lovely to hear that the Community Kitchen has helped Emily connect with her community and improve her mental health. She said she feels relaxed and calm during the sessions and rejuvenated to try new recipes. The communal eating aspect has been crucial to her experience and something she wouldn’t usually feel comfortable doing. However, it has become one of her favourite aspects of the session, sitting down to share stories, talking about food and seeing what others have made.
“Coming here has helped my mental health a lot. I often cancel plans, because of my ADHD. But at the kitchen, I always look forward to it. It sets my mood for days after and I leave afterwards on a high… It’s really good to get out, meet new people and find out you have lots in common”
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.
