The Community Cookery School at Westbank launches inspiring new courses to support the charity's work

The end of June marked the start of an exciting opportunity for would-be cooks to learn essential kitchen skills at Westbank Community Health and Care’s bespoke teaching kitchen in Exminster. A 6-week Learn to Cook course for beginners started on Monday, 29 June (with places still available), and a second one will begin on Monday, 17 August. The courses are friendly, supportive workshops for people with little or no cooking experience. Participants will learn to prepare simple homemade meals with practical support throughout. Each week includes demonstrations, guided practice and tasting opportunities. All ingredients are provided. 

.Alongside these foundation courses, a new programme of hands-on themed cookery classes will be running for adults and families keen to pursue their culinary interests. Priced at a fraction of the cost of commercial cookery schools, every booking helps fund Westbank's charitable work, supporting community cooking sessions and wellbeing programmes across Devon, helping to create opportunities to learn, connect and thrive through food.

Adult classes include: Gluten-Free Baking, Italian Bread Making, Taste Chocolate Differently, Anti-Inflammatory Cooking and The Art of Slow Taste. Prices from £22 - £75/head.

Family classes include: Taco Tuesday, Gluten-Free Baking and Bean Burger Bonanza. All are priced at £30/booking, which includes one adult and up to two children. Dedicated neurodivergent-friendly sessions, designed to provide a calmer, more relaxed learning environment, are also available, with additional individual support where needed.

Katie Elliott, Westbank’s Head of Fundraising and Marketing, says, “The Community Cookery School at Westbank has now been active for almost 3 years and, in that time, we have supported almost a thousand attendances across a dozen courses and welcomed people of all generations, many of whom are families with young children, those experiencing cost of living challenges, loneliness and isolation, and those with caring responsibilities.

“Courses have been led by our qualified nutritionist and supported by a team of dedicated volunteers. They have included Food Foundations, Cook and Lunch, After School Family Cooking, courses tailored for Young Carers, One Pot Cookery, Baby Weaning and much more!”

Westbank’s weekly ‘Cook and Lunch’ sessions on Wednesdays continue to bring people from different backgrounds together, offering participants the chance to cook up a delicious lunch and share a communal meal in the charity’s Community Hub. Any surplus food can be taken home to be enjoyed with other family members. 

Throughout the summer, the combination of new and existing offerings will ensure that the Community Cookery School at Westbank is a place that unites people through a shared enjoyment of food and learning.

Go to www.westbank.org.uk/community-cookery-school for more info and to book places.