A free year-long cookery project, inviting people in Wymondham to cook and eat together, is about to start at That Little Norfolk Shop & Studio on the edge of the town’s historic Abbey.

The initiative, funded by South Norfolk Health & Wellbeing Partnership, is open for applications now, with group sessions staggered throughout the year from this month until June 2027. Courses will focus on affordable, balanced, nutritious, tasty meals, and reducing food waste, at the same time as creating opportunities for participants to connect while dining.

ClearCompany CIC has designed courses for five demographic groups at their venue “That Little Shop & 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.

Each group will be 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. One of the six sessions will focus on plant-based alternatives, and another 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: “We have been running cookery demos at our Studio for the last year and had big plans for participatory workshops. The cost of essential equipment was an obstacle for us, so we were hopeful when Councillor Kim Carsok supported us to apply for funding from the Health and Wellbeing Partnership.

“Having secured £12000 of funding, we can purchase the necessary equipment and roll out the cookery courses. Both Caroline and Sara are fantastic cooks and very experienced at teaching cookery skills. It will be an invaluable opportunity for people to discover tips and make new friends in their local area - especially those who are recently bereaved, just moved to the area, or living alone.”

Courses start this month for the women’s midlife group and will be followed in October and November with exercise sessions to support women to increase strength for future years.

ClearCompany CIC has been expanding its events, community activities, and groups since it took on the former Abbey Schoolrooms in 2023. That Little Norfolk Studio offers family bingo and quiz nights, open mic sessions, sea shanty nights, children’s art events, a youth club, poetry events, men’s guitar sessions, reading clubs, and ukulele groups.

The volunteer-run venue hosts activities and groups seven days a week and is actively seeking to expand its team to help run That Little Norfolk Shop on the ground-floor which helps generate funds to run the Studio activities.

For further information visit about the first course for Women in midlife, visit clearcompany.org.uk/events/womens-midlife-collective-cookery-workshops.

To apply for cookery courses, or to enquire about volunteering opportunities, email info@clearcompany.org.uk.