Raking & Baking

Community cooking and gardening course

The Raking & Baking project was established in 2011 to engage local people in growing food and cooking healthy meals. It also provides an opportunity for intergenerational and multicultural activities, supporting the centre’s vision to form a strong, cohesive and caring local community.

Raking & Baking now runs as a free weekly cooking and gardening course designed to connect people to nature and each other. Participants learn how to grow their own food in small spaces and to cook fresh, seasonal food from scratch. There is a focus on skill sharing, wellbeing and healthy eating.

Mini Raking & Baking for preschoolers and their adults – new for Summer 2023!

Raking & Baking – how to get involved

Raking & Baking runs on Thursdays from 10am – 3pm and booking is required for the seven week course. The group is offered free, with a small, optional donation towards ingredients. We use our own perimeter garden and catering kitchen, so everything is done on site.

For more information, or if you would like to enrol on the course please email office@stwerburghs.org.uk.

What our participants say

“It has provided a lovely social experience, got me out of the house every week and my fingers in the soil. I have recently been struggling with anxiety and depression and it has helped me with this.”

“It is a good course; interacting with other people. There needs to be more courses as people on their own get depressed. If there was enough funding it would be good to have two classes a week!”

“I feel a greater sense of wellbeing.”

“I am feeling more alive and healthy, confident and happy following this sharing experience.”

“I feel more in touch with younger generations.”

“I am pleased with my ability to socialise with all kinds of people and talk more to people you wouldn’t normally talk to.”

Raking & Baking Evaluation Report 2015-2020

“It is the highlight of my week, I feel so privileged to be a part of this group. I feel happier, healthier, more confident, more hopeful and more connected to my community.”

The Raking & Baking Project 2015 – 2020 was a community-led initiative funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, Reaching Communities 5 Year Programme and based at St Werburghs Community Centre. Find out more by reading the Raking & Baking Evaluation Report 2015-2020.