Following a hugely successful series of cookery sessions for women in midlife, That Little Norfolk Studio in Wymondham is about to start a six-month cooking programme tailored towards senior citizens living alone.
All ingredients and equipment will be provided thanks to funding from South Norfolk Health and Wellbeing Partnership. The sessions offer an opportunity to be inspired by new recipes, cook with others, eat together, and meet new people.
Each session will take place upstairs in That Little Norfolk Studio on Mondays every month from September to February at 10am to 1pm with a main meal and dessert ready to eat by lunchtime.
ClearCompany CIC has designed courses for five groups at their venue “That Little Shop and Studio”: families; men between 40 and 65; women in midlife experiencing troublesome symptoms due to the menopause or perimenopause; senior citizens cooking for one; and young people between 11 and 16 years old.
Anyone interested in taking part is invited to apply for their preferred sessions, or attend the full course, where they will cook a meal and dessert together under the guidance of food experts Caroline Blake and Sara Mathews. Two of the six sessions will focus on plant-based alternatives, and one will be devoted to cooking for people with allergies. Each group will be consulted on how they might want to continue to meet and eat together at the venue when the courses end.
Julie Briggs, ClearCompany CIC director, said: “Our sessions with women in midlife and beyond have been so well-received, with people making new friends, enjoying a ‘MasterChef-style’ atmosphere, and adding new recipes to their repertoire.
“Thanks to Councillor Kim Carsok’s support, we secured £12,000 funding to purchase the necessary equipment and ingredients and roll out the cookery courses. Both Caroline and Sara are fantastic cooks and very experienced at teaching cookery skills. Our forthcoming programme for senior citizens living alone will be such a good opportunity for anyone recently bereaved or who just wants to connect with people in the area.”
The schedule for senior citizens is:
Mon 7th Sept 2026: Cauliflower and broccoli cheesy mac followed by Gingerbread mug cake
Mon 12th Oct 2026: Sausage and potato traybake and bread and butter pudding
Mon 9th Nov 2026: Chicken Stroganoff followed by Apple pie
Mon 7th Dec 2026: Minced beef casserole with dumplings and lemon sponge pudding
Mon 11th Jan 2027: Chow Mein and Fruit cobbler
Mon 8th Feb 2027: One-pan Spanish garlic pasta with veg and a five-minute berry cobbler
That Little Norfolk Studio is in the former Abbey Schoolrooms, Church Street, Wymondham. NR18 0PH.
To apply for cookery courses, email info@clearcompany.org.uk or phone 07753822050.
