Food Futures

TRAINING COURSE

Food Futures is a free training and employability programme, using food to help people build skills, confidence and pathways into work. Through kitchen training, hospitality experience and food business support, we help people learn practical skills and explore opportunities in food, catering and self-employment in a supportive community environment.

The Level 1 Foundation is a one-week intensive course designed to support people who are interested in exploring a pathway into food, catering or hospitality, especially those who may want to start their own food business in the future. On this course you’ll build confidence in the kitchen while learning practical cooking and food business skills in a supportive environment at Coexist Community Kitchen. 

You will learn:

• Kitchen basics and professional kitchen techniques

• Food hygiene, safety, allergens and dietary requirements

• Knife skills, recipe development and menu planning

• Menu pricing, invoicing and taking payment

• Customer service and communication skills

• Legal steps involved in starting a food business

• Branding and developing your own food concept

You will also be supported to complete a Food Hygiene Certificate through a mixture of home study and classroom support.

Helping people build futures in food

Food Futures is designed for people who may face extra barriers to work or training, including people on low incomes, people experiencing poor mental or physical health, carers, neurodivergent people, people experiencing isolation, and people seeking asylum or with refugee experience.

As a non-profit community cookery school, we believe nourishment means more than food. It also means helping people feel confident, connected, supported and able to move towards meaningful opportunities, training and employment.

Applying for our Summer 2026 Food Futures Level 1 Course

10th-14th August 2026

Our next course will take place over 5 consecutive days, starting on Monday 10th August and finishing on Friday 14th August.

This course is open to people who are seeking asylum, have refugee status, or have experience of the asylum or refugee system in the UK — including people who now have the right to work but may still face barriers to employment or training.

You do not need any professional cooking experience to apply — just a willingness to learn and take part. Please only apply if you are available to attend all five days of the course.

*Please note, we will prioritise applications from people who are facing barriers to work or training, and those who are not currently employed, or in secure employment.

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WHO IS IT FOR?

WHAT PAST STUDENTS SAY….

“I feel a lot more confident, I can’t wait to start my business. This has been very good for me.”

-Misaa,Sudan

“I didn’t miss any lessons because it was so exciting.”

-Olga, Ukraine

“I was happy to share my culture and cook my traditional food for people.”

-Menas,Sudan

“I have enjoyed it a lot. I learnt many new skills such as cutting meat, using knives, and how to make stock.”

-Nijood,Sudan

“After getting out of depression, I just

wanted to be around people. The course

helped put me where I needed to go.”

-Khadi,Nigeria

“It equipped me with very critical

knowledge on how to set up a business...it was very rewarding.”

-Janet, HongKong

Class of Autumn 2025

APPLICATION FORM

Applications close on Friday 3rd July.

Food Futures

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  • Application review – We'll review your application and be in touch if we'd like to learn more.

  • Phone conversation – You'll be invited to a short phone chat with a member of the team to discuss your application and answer any questions you have.

  • In-person meeting – If the programme feels like a good fit for you, we'll invite you to visit the kitchen and meet the team.

  • Selection decision – We'll let you know whether you have been offered a place on the programme.

  • Start your Food Futures journey – Successful applicants will receive all the information they need before starting the course.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE COURSE?

After completing Food Futures, you'll be invited to apply for Level 2: Food Futures Trading.

This exciting next step gives you the opportunity to develop, test and sell your own dish (develop at Level 1) through a live lunchtime service at Coexist Community Kitchen. Working with support from our team, you'll gain hands-on experience of preparing food for customers, managing service, taking payments and building confidence in a real trading environment.

We'll also stay in touch after the course to share opportunities for further training, volunteering, work experience and employment support.