We are excited to share that our brand-new teaching kitchen is now open at The Way Youth Zone!

Thanks to funding secured by City of Wolverhampton Council through the Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund, we have been able to expand our kitchen and create a much bigger space for young people to learn, cook and grow in confidence.

The project has transformed our cooking area by extending it into a neighbouring office space, doubling the size of the kitchen and allowing more young people to take part in one of our most popular activities.

Over the last year, 239 young people have joined cooking sessions at The Way, taking part in 580 cooking experiences. From learning how to make healthy meals to understanding food safety, budgeting and meal planning, cooking gives young people important skills that can help them for life.

For 14-year-old member Isis, cooking has become one of the highlights of her time at The Way.

“Cooking is one of my favourite activities at The Way because I get to learn new things every week. Before I started coming to the cooking sessions, I wasn’t very confident in the kitchen, but now I can make meals on my own, like lasagne and garlic bread, and help out at home. It’s really fun cooking with other people and trying recipes I wouldn’t have tried before.”

Paul Snape, CEO of The Way Youth Zone, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to City of Wolverhampton Council and the Pride in Place programme for making this project possible. The kitchen is one of the busiest and most popular spaces in our Youth Zone and this investment will allow more young people to access cooking activities, learn valuable life skills and gain confidence in a safe and supportive environment. This is about much more than a new kitchen. It is about creating opportunities that help young people thrive now and in the future.”

Warinder Juss MP, who supported the funding application, said:

“Investing in young people is one of the best investments we can make in our city’s future. This new space will help young people build confidence and valuable life skills, while giving them the opportunity to discover new passions and potential career paths.”

The kitchen will play a key role in future programmes at The Way, including a five-week cooking project funded by Lidl, which will support 160 young people to learn new recipes and develop practical skills they can use at home.

The new facilities were recently showcased to supporters, partners and local leaders at a Patron Breakfast held at The Way. Guests had the chance to see the kitchen for themselves and hear about the difference cooking activities are making to young people’s lives.

This investment is about more than creating a bigger kitchen. It is about giving young people the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence, make friends and prepare for their future.

We can’t wait to welcome even more young people into the kitchen this summer and see what they create!