Kentmere cooking club becomes lifeline for local families

In Seacroft, something special is simmering. It is not just the smell of chocolate chip cookies or melting burgers. 

It is the quiet transformation of people who walk in feeling unsure and leave with a little more confidence, a full stomach, and a sense of belonging.

What started in 2020 as a response to the isolation of lockdown and the rising cost of living has evolved into the Kentmere Community Kitchen, a space where the scent of fresh baking serves as a backdrop for social connection and personal growth.

For Gemma Dockerty, 34, the founder, the philosophy is simple: it is about the person, not just the plate. They cater to everyone from neurotypical children to adults who might find traditional social settings challenging.

She said: “It’s an inclusive and safe space, I think food brings out conversations in people and anything goes in here.

“I want it to be more of like a community kitchen, where people can just come in and use it and make something to eat if they need it, or join the group. It is not just about learning to cook. It’s more about the social and community atmosphere.”

The sessions focus on simple, affordable meals that can be prepared quickly. They typically last about an hour, though they can run longer depending on the meal.

Gemma’s love for cooking was inspired by her grandma, who would always prepare the family meals. Now as an adult, in a time where many thrive on instant gratification, her sessions offer something different: a community where people can come together and bond over a shared love of cooking.

“I was brought up by my grandma and we always had homemade food, I was always around her in the kitchen,” she said. “But now generations have changed. Everyone’s rushed now. No one has the time anymore, so if these kids can have that time while learning new skills that’s what we want this to be.  Sometimes they just come in and say ‘I’ve had a rubbish day’ or they say ‘I’m really hungry this week’ and we want them to have that safe space where they can be themselves.”

For some of the kids, like 13-year-old Kian, cooking is simply fun. His favourite thing to make? “White chocolate chip cookies,” he said.

He added that learning new recipes has kept him coming back over the years. 

For 15-year-old Max, the motivation goes deeper. When asked what he likes about cooking, he replies simply: “I like making people smile.”

Children choose the recipes and help shape the sessions. Sometimes the sessions follow a theme, with members making everything from nachos to cookies. The group has also learned to make international delicacies, including a session where local women from Hong Kong taught everyone how to make spring rolls. No matter the recipe, the focus is always on keeping things affordable so that they can be recreated again at home.

Adults find the same sense of encouragement. Arran Dawson, 30, who has been attending for a year, credits the kitchen with giving him the confidence to pursue other interests, such as hosting radio shows and podcasts at Chapel FM. “I’m more confident in the kitchen and I sometimes make dinner,” Arran says, noting that he would have been unable to do any of his new projects without the support he found at the kitchen.

Gemma ensures the lessons remain practical for families facing financial pressure. She uses basic ingredients that might be found in a food bank or pantry, keeping most recipes within a £20 budget. “I try and keep it low so they can make it again at home,” she says.

“Everything that we cook, I use basic ingredients that you would be given in a food bank and the pantry,” she says. “If at any point, a child opens a cupboard and sees ingredients that are stuck in the back, they’ll be able to make someone out of it.”

The impact of the kitchen extends far beyond the four walls of the community centre. 

Lisa Fox, from the LS14 Trust who works alongside Gemma, has seen significant changes in those who attend, noting that individuals have come on “leaps and bounds with confidence”. She said the real aim is to create a home away from home where kids can feel free to be themselves.

“You’ve got to love your community for the community to love you,” she explained and added: “When you’re at home, you socialise around the kitchen. That’s what I want here. I want kids to be able to come and go, where they can make something to eat, join the cooking or just sit and watch. I want that social space within the kitchen.”

In a world that is constantly on the go, the Kentmere Community Kitchen offers a rare moment of stillness. Whether it is learning the difference between brown and white sugar or simply finding a place to sit quietly on a “rubbish day,” the kitchen has become the heart of its community.

The neurodivergent kids cooking classes are held every Tuesday at 4pm and the adults classes are at 4pm on Thursdays. For more information email Gemma on gemma@ls14trust.org.