Let's Cook with Josie CIC

08/09/2026

Please nominate Let's Cook with Josie CIC. This grant would go a long way towards my new Next Steps with Josie programme. :)

https://movementforgood.com/draws/1000?fbclid=IwdGRjcAUM0TFjbGNrBQzRI3Bkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEet3-IAmthJt2NQIvfUzeV8rtSMGcwzVc6cVlo1hcx1ithUL8GZiSuXKiD3r8_aem_joCKRneHltTAJMrZ6rRafg

Nominate a charity for a Movement for Good award now.

07/09/2026

So I got my dates muddled, I've actually got one more session with Harvey next week too! Today we were back Springbank Community Group CiC. Harvey bought 2 large bags of donations with him & what with donations from Sainsbury's & Lidl today we had lots to put away. We then spent an hour packaging teabags & then onto another important life skill - learning how to recycle :) He then treated himself to his usual sausage sandwich!

05/09/2026

Almost at my target 🙌 Thanks so much to all of you that have donated to my good cause. It's not too late to make a small donation if you can afford to do so 😉

Can you help support my cooking classes? I'm raising more funding to continue classes Lift Crescent View a school for children who have social, emotional & mental health needs. Mindy Pickering & I will start our fifth year at the school next term & have a funding gap. The work we have achieved with these children has been amazing, the children & teachers love it & the skills the children are using will help them not just with their cookery skills but with their future, whatever they decide to do. If you can afford to do so please consider a small donation. Mindy & I would be extremely grateful :)

Your donations will also go towards my Next Steps with Josie, a life skills programme for young people with additional needs :)

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/letscookwithjosie?utm_medium=CF&utm_source=CL&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUI2gVjbGNrBQjZ_XBkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeQ4QTOAaD5Bk1L-rnoOIFC954vlvaK9NyRiSyBZInmUU-vkD4VtLtVOuKQMI_aem_DbTztOCNZA49Dw60qFukLQ

Iʼm raising money to continue providing free cookery classes to children who may be disadvantaged in some way.. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

03/09/2026

Thank you so much to everyone who has sent me photos & texts to say they're putting their blue tokens in the box for the Tesco Fruit & Veg Grants Programme. I'm delighted how well it's going :)

I'm in the following Tescos until the end of November so please do support me...

2167 Bishops Cleeve Superstore GL52 8LR
2280 Cheltenham Superstore GL51 8JQ
3286 Tewkesbury Express Express GL20 5LQ
4637 Cheltenham High Street Express Express GL50 3HJ
4755 Cheltenham Express Express GL50 3HJ
5872 Cheltenham Hewlet Express Express GL52 6UJ
6236 Queens Road Cheltenham Express Express GL50 2NH

01/09/2026

So what started out 5 years ago as a school pick up, progressed to Harvey assisting me to cook a family meal, supporting him doing his homework, learning how to wash & dry up, shopping for ingredients, making his meals independently along with his packed lunch for college, & finally volunteering alongside me at the Community Pantry.

Just one more session to go before he starts his next adventure. We've only fallen out twice in 5 years which I think is pretty amazing!

So I'm now wondering whether I could offer this service to other 18-25 year olds with additional needs. I don't want it to be just about cooking but also offer lots of other options for 1-2 hours per week. I have watched Harvey grow in confidence & I'd like to support more young people to gain independence. Any thoughts on this would be really helpful 🙂

30/08/2026

I very loosely followed a recipe for my dinner but obviously didn't have all the ingredients but it turned out fab!

I had leftover cooked new potatoes in the fridge, tomatoes & onions from my garden, lemons & coriander left over from last week's classes & treated myself to some paneer which came ready coated in turmeric, chilli & cumin. Here's the recipe....

*Put the potatoes in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil until crisped up.
*Cut the paneer into cubes & fry in a tiny bit of olive oil until golden. Then set to one side. To make it vegan, use tofu.
*Slice an onion & fry on a low heat for 10 mins.
*Add 6 chopped fresh tomatoes, garlic, chilli, pinch turmeric & teaspoon ground coriander. Cook on a low heat for 15 mins.
*Add frozen peas, the crispy potatoes & paneer & cook for 5 mins.
*Top with a squeeze of lemon juice & chopped coriander

Serves 2 so I've got some leftover for tomorrow :)

26/08/2026

And that's a wrap for the Summer. 65 children in total cooking with Josie over the Summer in various community locations across Cheltenham.

This morning we've been making more stir-fry & fruity buns. Every child that's come to my classes has been fabulous, well behaved & very focused with ages ranging from 2 to 16 years.

4 classes have been funded by The National Lottery Community Fund which I am extremely grateful for :)

To all my assistants - Charlie, Gess, Daisy & Emily - you are superstars :)

25/08/2026

This morning I've been back at The Rock Cheltenham with another group of great children making stir-fry. Another lovely session :)

With thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund for funding this project & to Gess for assisting :)

24/08/2026

Well that was a busy morning. Levi is painting my bathroom so I was up early moving everything out, I had a medical appointment then onto Springbank with the boys. Loads of deliveries to put away & a massive thank you to the lady that arranged a huge Ocado delivery. So kind & very gratefully received :)

21/08/2026

Today I needed a bit of peace & obviously I'd booked swimming just as the heavens opened! Sun came out though & it was beautiful 😍

Starting to get used to hubbie being away now. 3 weeks away, back for 2 days next week then away for 3 months. I'm embracing the quiet time!