Cooking Up Expands to Putney, Tackles Food Poverty

Key Points

• Cooking Up, a Richmond based cooking charity, plans expansion to more London boroughs including Putney and Wandsworth if additional funding secured.​
• Currently operates from community hubs in Hampton, Whitton, and Ham, offering free cookery classes for simple, healthy recipes.​
• Founded in 2022 by chair Janet Hilton, inspired by food bank work during Covid-19 pandemic where users avoided fresh produce.​
• Janet Hilton states need to teach cooking to reduce takeaway reliance and ultra-processed foods, while addressing mental health and isolation.​
• Charity has produced over 2000 meals using cost-effective, one-pot recipes replicable at home.​
• Relies on local volunteers for mentoring participants.​
• Participant Katie Sullivan, originally from New York and living in Richmond, praises 1-to-1 support making cooking enjoyable.​
• Classes to start in Putney from February next year; discussions ongoing with Wandsworth Borough Council for southwest London expansion.​
• Long-term funding essential to combat food poverty and social isolation more widely.​

Inverted Pyramid Structure

A Richmond-based cooking charity, Cooking Up, is poised to extend its free cookery classes beyond current hubs in Hampton, Whitton, and Ham to boroughs like Putney and Wandsworth, pending further funding. Established in 2022, the initiative addresses food poverty and social isolation by teaching simple, healthy recipes, having already produced over 2000 meals. Chair Janet Hilton emphasises the programme’s role in countering reliance on takeaways and ultra-processed foods while fostering community ties.​

What Inspired the Creation of Cooking Up?

As reported by journalists covering southwest London community initiatives, the charity’s origins trace back to Janet Hilton’s experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. Janet Hilton, chair of Cooking Up, drew inspiration from her work in a food bank, where she noted users’ reluctance to take fresh produce. She explained:

“We needed to get more people learning how to cook, because a lot of people are spending too much money on takeaways and they’re eating too much ultra-processed foods”.​

This observation highlighted broader issues of food insecurity and poor dietary habits exacerbated by the pandemic. Janet Hilton further elaborated on the social dimensions:

“Then there’s people with mental health issues, who’ve got depression and who’ve not working – they need to meet other people.”

She positioned the charity as offering “a free, and very easy and friendly way to do just that”.​

How Does Cooking Up Operate Its Classes?

Cooking Up delivers free cookery classes from community hubs in Hampton, Whitton, and Ham, focusing on cost-effective, one-pot recipes easily replicated at home. Since inception in 2022, participants have collectively made over 2000 such meals under the guidance of local volunteers who provide hands-on mentoring. The model prioritises accessibility, ensuring recipes remain simple and healthy to empower attendees against food poverty.​

Volunteers play a pivotal role, offering support throughout the cooking process to build confidence among participants. This structure not only teaches practical skills but also creates opportunities for social interaction, directly tackling isolation.​

What Do Participants Say About the Classes?

Participant Katie Sullivan, who lives in Richmond but hails originally from New York, highlighted the value of personalised support. She stated:

“Having someone next to you – either preparing food together or cooking simultaneously – makes it feel more doable.”

Katie Sullivan added:

“Cooking is a chore to me, but when I’ve got company it’s lovely and enjoyable”.​

Her testimony underscores the programme’s dual benefit in skill-building and emotional uplift. Such feedback from attendees reinforces Cooking Up’s impact on daily life and mental wellbeing.​

What Are the Expansion Plans for Cooking Up?

Janet Hilton revealed specific timelines for growth, noting classes will launch in Putney from February next year. The charity is also in discussions with Wandsworth Borough Council to broaden provision across southwest London. These steps aim to reach more individuals facing food poverty and isolation in additional boroughs.​

Expansion hinges on securing more funding to sustain operations beyond current sites. Janet Hilton stressed the need for long-term financial support to realise this vision effectively.​

Why Is Funding Critical for Cooking Up’s Mission?

Longer-term funding remains essential for Cooking Up to scale its efforts against food poverty and social isolation. As chair Janet Hilton added, sustained resources would enable provision in more locations, amplifying the charity’s reach. Without it, ambitions for Putney, Wandsworth, and beyond risk stalling despite proven success.​

The charity’s reliance on volunteers and community hubs demonstrates resourcefulness, yet experts in community reporting note that stable funding underpins such expansions. Coverage across southwest London media echoes this call, attributing the urgency directly to Hilton’s vision.​

Who Supports Cooking Up’s Work?

Local volunteers form the backbone of Cooking Up, mentoring participants and ensuring smooth class delivery. Community hubs in Hampton, Whitton, and Ham host operations, reflecting grassroots backing. Ongoing talks with Wandsworth Borough Council signal potential institutional support for wider rollout.​

Janet Hilton’s leadership, informed by food bank insights, drives the initiative forward. Participant voices like Katie Sullivan’s further validate the approach, drawing attention from regional journalists.​

What Challenges Does the Charity Face?

Reluctance to use fresh produce, observed by Janet Hilton during Covid-19, persists as a core challenge alongside high takeaway costs and ultra-processed food consumption. Mental health barriers, including depression, compound social isolation for many non-working individuals. Cooking Up counters these through friendly, free classes, but scaling requires funding to match demand.​

Reports from southwest London outlets detail how economic pressures fuel these issues, positioning the charity as a timely intervention.​

How Has Cooking Up Impacted the Community Since 2022?

Over 2000 meals created since 2022 mark tangible output, with one-pot recipes promoting home cooking affordability. Free access removes barriers, while volunteer mentoring fosters skills and connections. Expansion plans to Putney and Wandsworth promise broader community benefits if funded.​

Journalistic accounts praise this record, attributing milestones to Janet Hilton’s proactive stance.​

What Makes Cooking Up’s Recipes Unique?

Focus on cost-effective, one-pot dishes ensures replicability at home, addressing food poverty directly. Simple, healthy formulations contrast with ultra-processed alternatives, aligning with Janet Hilton’s pandemic-era insights. Participants like Katie Sullivan find them approachable with support.​

This practicality, as covered in local news, enhances long-term dietary shifts.​

When Will Putney Classes Begin?

Janet Hilton confirmed Putney classes start from February next year, marking the first phase of expansion. Discussions with Wandsworth Borough Council follow, targeting southwest London growth. Timely funding will determine pace and scope.​

Regional media timelines align precisely with this announcement.