The Littlemore cooking group helping families eat well and connect
In Littlemore, a community cooking group is helping families eat well, build confidence and feel more connected.
Health is shaped by everyday life
Good health is shaped as much by everyday life as it is by healthcare. Things like meeting people, confidence and access to good, affordable food all play a vital role, especially in communities where people may be facing challenges.
A local idea making a real difference
In Littlemore, weekly cooking sessions were set up to help local families make healthy meals that are simple, affordable and easy to recreate at home.
Every recipe costs less than five pounds for a family of four, giving parents practical ideas they can use in everyday life. For some, the group is also a chance to try new ingredients and feel more confident cooking on a budget.
The group helps families:
• make healthy meals on a budget
• try simple recipes at home
• build confidence in cooking
• meet and connect with other parents
It's become a safe and welcoming space where parents can cook, share ideas and talk openly with one another. It has grown because people in the community trust it and the person running it is someone they know.
That trust has helped the group become a valued part of community life.
Built by the community, for the community
The idea started when one local resident saw that other parents needed easy, affordable ways to eat well - she had benefited from a cooking group herself and wanted to pass that support on to others.
Together with another local mum, she set up the group and still helps run it so that other families can benefit too.
Support that helped the group grow
The group was supported through the Community Insight Profiles grant funding.
This support, amongst others, has helped local people build and grow something they had already started - helping it remain part of community life.
The sessions have grown quickly through word of mouth, with more people keen to get involved.
This is not just about food — it is about confidence, connection and community.
Why community-led work matters
The story in Littlemore shows why community led work is so important.
When we're supported to develop our own ideas, those ideas are more likely to grow, last and continue making a difference. In this case, investing in relationships and supporting community-led action, made it possible to create activities that matter and that last.
Could your community do something similar?
If you know your area well and can see a local need, small ideas can grow into something that makes a real difference.
You could even apply for community funding and grants to help turn your idea into action.
More information
Visit the Director of Public Health annual report website to find out more about how we are working to improve health and tackle inequality in our communities.
Comments ()