OUTREACH COOKERY CLASSES

A place to feel at home

At the Coexist Community Kitchen, we believe in the power of food to build connection, confidence, and community. We run a wide range of outreach cooking classes every week, providing a safe and welcoming space for individuals from all walks of life. Our kitchen is a place where people experiencing social marginalisation of any kind can come together to cook, share meals, feel joyful and build connections in their community.

Who we work with

Every week, we run free or subsidised cooking lessons designed to support individuals facing a range of challenges. These classes provide more than just the chance to learn new cooking skills—they offer a space for connection, personal growth, and confidence-building.

Each class is tailored to the unique needs of the group, ensuring everyone feels valued and supported. By working alongside local charities, non-profits, support services, and health providers, we create a welcoming environment where people can build new skills, friendships, and a real sense of belonging.

We work with:

  • People living with mental health challenges

  • People experiencing food insecurity

  • Individuals feeling isolated or lonely

  • Young people and young carers

  • Refugees and people seeking asylum

  • Individuals in recovery from addiction

  • People with neurodivergence or additional learning needs

  • Women accessing support services, including those affected by domestic violence or involvement with the justice system

Our partners

Over the last 12 years, we've built an incredible network of partners who help us deliver cooking classes tailored to the needs of individuals and groups across Bristol. Many of our workshops are run in collaboration with charity partners, including Second Step, Bristol Drugs Project, ACH, Aid Box Community, Young Carers, and Off The Record to name but a few. Find out more about our partners here.

These partnerships allow us to reach even more people and provide meaningful support to those who need it most. We’re always looking to expand our network and collaborate with organisations that share our values and mission.

Want to partner with us?
Get in touch or sign up to our Partner Mailing List below to stay up-to-date on new opportunities.

  • “I always wanted to learn how to cook and bake properly but never knew where to start. Now I can do it and I’ve been busy making the recipes at home with my family. My kids are getting involved as well, it’s really great and brought us together. It was so good to meet other people in the cooking session, we had so much fun, sharing stories and listening to music. I always felt so uplifted after each session. I can’t wait to go back!”

  • "It’s been amazing working as part of a team. Even though we all had our individual work stations we came together at the end, supported one another, and ate together. It was an amazing course for confidence-building. Really I think more women and people, in general, should have access to it as it’s so great for building your self-esteem and trying out new things."

INCLUSIVITY & ACCESSIBILITY

We're all about bringing people together through food and want everyone to feel welcome and included. So we do our best to adapt all our sessions to accommodate all dietary requirements, be it religious, ethical, health or allergen-related. All we ask that you give us a heads-up in advance about your specific needs, and we'll plan accordingly.

 Our kitchen is fully wheelchair accessible. We have an accessible toilet and counter tops that can be lowered if needed. We also have stools available for anyone who needs to sit down during one of our sessions.

If you're a member of the Deaf community and need a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter for any of our sessions, please reach out to us in advance and we’ll do everything we can to try and facilitate this.

We value your feedback and are always looking for ways to improve. Let us know how we can make our space even more welcoming, inclusive and accessible. Leave feedback: food@coexistuk.org

Newsletter

Sign up today and have all our latest event updates sent straight to your inbox.

Volunteer

We couldn't do what we do without the support of our amazing team of volunteers and we're always looking for extra hands.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Get involved in the kitchen

We couldn't do what we do without the generous donations and volunteers from the community. There are lots of ways you can get involved.

Follow us on Instagram

〰️

Follow us on Instagram 〰️