This Mental Health Week, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the care, connection, and sense of belonging that can grow from something as simple — and powerful — as cooking and sharing food together.
At a time when mental health conditions have become the single largest cause of disability in the UK, accessible, community-based support has never been more important. Across our classes and programmes, we continue to see just how transformative community spaces can be. In fact, 91% of our participants and volunteers told us that attending our classes and courses supported their mental health and wellbeing.
For many people, our community kitchen becomes more than just a place to cook. It becomes a place to reconnect — with others, with routine, and with themselves.
One volunteer shared how being part of our community made a meaningful difference during periods of isolation:
“It has been beneficial to my mental health to volunteer, specifically during months of the year when I live alone. I’ve had wonderful experiences of meeting lovely people and feeling fulfilled after a volunteering session.”
Another participant described how reducing social contact had a serious impact on their wellbeing:
“I cut down on socialising a lot, and my mental health deteriorated terribly…”
Through cooking, conversation, and shared learning, they were able to rebuild confidence and connection. They reflect on how health should be supported not only through good nutrition, but also by addressing loneliness, isolation, and stress — and how Made In Hackney created a welcoming space where community and shared experiences could support better mental wellbeing and a stronger sense of belonging.
“It’s about your stress levels, which is a big factor in high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes.”
“Socialising is a big part of being healthy and maintaining good mental health […] So Made in Hackney for me is a good step towards better mental health — or at least I can speak for myself, my own betterment of my mental health.”
These stories remind us that shared meals, learning new skills, and spending time in welcoming spaces can create moments of comfort, dignity, and belonging — and that small actions and encounters can become turning points in supporting one’s journey towards better mental wellbeing.
Additional Mental Health Support
For anyone looking for further support, City and Hackney offer a range of trusted mental health resources, kindly gathered by the Hackney Community Champions Network:
- City and Hackney Wellbeing Network
- Mind in the City, Hackney & Waltham Forest
- NHS Mental Health Check
- THRIVE LDN
Join Us for Our First Communi-Tea Morning
In response to requests from our community for more opportunities to connect, we’re delighted to invite you to our very first Communi-Tea Morning at Liberty Hall on Monday 18th.
We’ll open our doors from 9:30am for tea and conversation, head out for a gentle walk in the local park at 10:30am, and return afterwards for more tea and community connection — a Monday morning with a community care twist.
No booking is required — just come along.
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Everything we do is made possible thanks to the support of our donors, sponsors, and wider community. Whether you donate, attend a masterclass, volunteer, or gift a voucher, you are directly helping to keep our charity thriving and ensuring nobody in our community is left behind when it comes to food justice and community wellbeing.
