The Plant-Based Community Cookery School
The Plant-Based Community Cookery School
Posted Thursday 17th July 2025...
My name is Michelle Amooty and I am the Extended School Activities Manager at Oldhill Community School. We are a primary school with a Children’s Centre and an Autistic Resource Unit. I have worked at Oldhill for 15 years and have loved every minute of it. We are more like one big family! We are unfortunately one of the Hackney Schools being closed in July.
1. What is your favourite part about working at Oldhill Community School?
I love working with the children and their parents, no two days are the same. I love seeing the direct impact of our work on children's lives and seeing their growth and development. I also love working as part of such a diverse community.
2. How long have Made In Hackney and Oldhill Community School been working together for?
We have been collaborating for 5 years now on a multitude of projects, including family cooking sessions, children’s cooking sessions, workshops and the Community Made project.
3. How have Made In Hackney supported Oldhill Community School?
Over the past 5 years MIH have provided cooking sessions for our school children, parents and families. Cooking workshops for our after school club. Opportunities for volunteers to work on the Community Made project and they have also provided crucial free meals for our most vulnerable families.
4. How has the free meal service supported families of pupils?
The Community Made project has been a lifeline for some of our most vulnerable families. Being able to collect nutritional, good quality, freshly prepared, freezable meals has been incredible for these families that are struggling financially and has reduced food insecurity for them. Being able to volunteer at Liberty Hall, taking part in the cooking of meals for the community has enabled parents and carers to take part in a great cause, socialise, learn new skills and gain a sense of achievement which has in turn helped to raise confidence and self-esteem and improved their mental health and well-being.
5. Have you noticed a positive impact on the children who receive our meals?
Absolutely!! They are happier and we have noticed an improvement in health, punctuality and attendance, academic progress and overall wellbeing.
6. Why do you think nutrition is important for school children?
Nutrition is incredibly important for school children as it directly impacts their physical and cognitive development, academic performance, and long-term health. It’s important for their physical growth and development, cognitive function, mental health and overall health and wellbeing.
7. Have Made in Hackney’s free cookery classes positively impacted the health and wellbeing of the children who attended?
The cooking sessions have benefitted both children and parents tremendously, they have been able to try new foods, learn the benefits and nutritional values of foods, gain crucial knowledge on cooking on a budget and eating healthily.
8. What will you miss the most about Oldhill Community School?
This is a very hard question for me! After working for the school for the past 15 years it is incredibly sad to see it close, it almost feels like a bereavement, that I am losing part of myself, my second family and my second home. I will miss the children, the families, the special projects I was part of, the links I had established in the community, like MIH, the ex-pupils that always came back to carry out work experience and I will really miss the feeling that comes from being a part of something great.
