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  • The Community Cookery School
  1. Our services
  2. The Community Cookery School

The Community Cookery School

Learn new skills and eat well for less.

During the pandemic, Westbank distributed food boxes with fresh produce. Many of the recipients said they lacked the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make meals with the vegetables and store cupboard ingredients they had been gifted, and the idea of creating a bespoke teaching kitchen began simmering away...

Click here to view the chronology of the Community Cookery School

Our purpose-built teaching kitchen supports members of our community in gaining knowledge, skills, and confidence in cooking whilst learning how to produce healthy, cost-effective meals that suit their lifestyles.  

By booking a place on one of our Community Cookery School classes, you're doing more than learning new skills and enjoying great food. Every ticket purchased directly supports our charitable work, helping us expand our community cookery programme and provide accessible cooking sessions for local people who may otherwise be unable to attend. Your support enables us to invest back into the community, creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn, connect, and thrive through cooking.


Courses currently on offer:

Learn to Cook with Confidence Courses

Find Out More

Cook and Lunch Sessions

Find Out More

Cookery Classes

Find Out More



Meet Paul & Mali

Paul and his son, Mali, who are both neurodivergent, started visiting Westbank to cook together in a makeshift kitchen before the charity opened its bespoke teaching facility, The Community Cookery School at Westbank, in autumn 2023. They don’t have family nearby and Paul is a full-time carer to Mali, who receives 15 hours of specialist educational provision a week. Paul also uses The Gym at Westbank to support his overall health and wellbeing. Their regular visits to Westbank help give Mali real-life skills and give them both the opportunity to meet a supportive group of people. It makes them feel part of a community. 

Watch film here

We are delighted to have received generous support to date for the project from; The Edward Gostling Foundation, Morrisons Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, National Lottery Awards for All England, Hubbub, The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, Veronica Awdry Charitable Trust, The Misses Barrie Charitable Trust, Waitrose, Buckfast Abby, The Norman Family Trust, The David Gibbons Foundations, John Lewis and Jamieson Bystock Trust.

We continue to seek support for the project, and we welcome gifts and donations of any size.

CLICK HERE to donate or Call our Fundraising Team on 01392 824752

To find out more about current Volunteer Opportunities or Sponsorship, please contact us on 01392 824752

With your help, we can continue to support our community, now and in the future.

Published: 24th July, 2023

Updated: 12th June, 2026

Author: Katie Elliott

Location: Westbank Community Health and Care,, Farm House Rise, Exminster, EX6 8AT

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Westbank Community Health and Care
Farm House Rise
Exminster
EX6 8AT

Opening Hours
Monday - Friday: 9am - 6.30pm

Phone: 01392 824752

Registered Charity No. 1119541 | Company No. 06243811

   

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