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. 

Paul says, “We have seen a lot of changes here over the years. Now the Cookery School is like a Master Chef set up. It’s brilliant. Mali has learnt to try different foods and become more involved in preparing meals. It’s lovely afterwards to sit down together as a group and share what we’ve cooked, among a diverse group of people - different ages, different backgrounds, different beliefs. It brings people together and it’s a really nice thing to do. All the staff and volunteers at the Community Cookery are great.

“As well as cooking, I use The Gym at Westbank. It’s not intimidating like commercial gyms can be. It’s communal and everyone is very friendly and welcoming. The instructors are so supportive. It’s really helped with my physical and mental health and wellbeing. I’ve never come across another place like Westbank. It’s a combination of the people, the place and seeing Westbank grow and develop. It’s very special to us. If you ask me on a scale of 1 to 10 how much difference it has made to our lives, we’d have to give it an 11!”

Mali says, “Cooking here with my dad has made me more adventurous with my food. I have tried stuff that I didn’t think I would ever try. It’s amazing here. I really love coming. I bring along two of my favourite bears. Giving them a cuddle when I get overwhelmed or stressed helps to calm me down and everyone knows them now. Someone here even made Fluffy a special Westbank apron. We’re also my dad’s ‘support team’ at the gym.”

 Watch the full interview here: