Sanctuary Cookalongs

Home
United Kingdom
Preston
Sanctuary Cookalongs

A community from around the world, living in Preston, Lancashire, England, UK, we cook, share skills and eat together.

29/05/2026

As requested by Sanctuary Cookalongs participants, we are putting on a Sewing Course at The Foxton off Avenham Lane in Preston on Mondays in June and July so that you can learn how to sew an apron and a bag to carry it in.

Starting on Monday 1st June, experts Salma and Lynn will pass on their skills to you in a fun, relaxed and inclusive environment. We hope that this will lead onto other opportunities for you!

Community lunch provided by Sanctuary Cookalongs from midday.

Please sign up here, but please be aware that we have only 12 places available: https://forms.gle/8nTsK3rWKa7kSV3z8

18/05/2026

An hour of energetic Zumba, an informative health hour, thanks to Katy from Cancer Research UK and lunch of Potato Salad and Lentil Balls, what more could you want?

At Sanctuary Cookalongs, we’re building a community where people feel empowered to care for themselves and support others.

From moving our bodies, to learning about our health, to sharing a community lunch, every moment is about building connections and forming friendships.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the day so special.

15/05/2026

Wafa was our talented chef for the third week of our six-week cooking programme at The Foxton Centre. She guided participants through the preparation of aubergine salad, also known as salata aswad, alongside a comforting potato keema-style stew.

These dishes can be enjoyed together as part of a main meal or served as a side. Kamila prepared fresh chapattis to complete the meal, adding a final touch to the meal. As always, the session brought people together through food, conversation, and shared learning in a warm and welcoming environment.

13/05/2026

Our talented chefs, Denisa and Nursel, prepared Turkish leek gözleme and a leek and potato salad, using surplus donated leeks.

It is the role of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teachers to help learners understand how to access healthcare, especially when living in a new country with limited English.

Filling out forms, speaking with receptionists, and trying to explain symptoms to a doctor can often leave people feeling unheard or misunderstood.

In the third week of our ESOL programme, participants learned how to confidently communicate their health concerns, including common symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, and upset stomach.

Our ESOL team consists of motivating teachers who speak a range of different languages. We all support learners to progress which can aid their integration into life in Preston.

08/05/2026

For the first of our six-week cooking workshops on Friday 10th April, funded by the Duchy OfLancaster, Salima taught participants how to prepare Algerian tagine zitoune, which was served with white multigrain bread.

Tagines are primarily used in Moroccan cuisine but are also popular in other North African and some Middle Eastern counties. For our workshop, we used a saucepan, but if you are preparing this dish at home, you can use a traditional tagine pot, which is made from clay and sometimes painted or glazed.

Keep an eye out for our cooking workshop posts to find out how to prepare more delicious meals from our Sanctuary Cookalong's family!

07/05/2026

Sanctuary Cookalongs collaborated with Disability North West and Prevent Breast Cancer to host an informative talk with Azra and Martha on recognising signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

The informal workshop was followed by a community lunch, prepared by Nursel and Abida. Our fantastic chefs prepared Turkish bread and EZO bridal soup, and it went down a treat!

06/05/2026

The second session of our six-week ESOL programme was taught by our wonderful founder and teacher, Jen. Jen taught us how to find useful information on our phones using WhatsApp and Maps, followed by some handwritten activities and pronunciation games.

Our ESOL participants learnt some common British informal expressions such as 'Hiya' and 'Ta'. 'Hiya' meaning 'Hello', and 'Ta', meaning 'Thank you'.

Abida and Shaheena prepared tomato soup and moonge daal bhajia, accompanied by fresh sourdough bread baked by Lily.

05/05/2026

Sanctuary Cookalongs was delighted to welcome Sumaiya from BBC Lancashire to our cooking workshop! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cevkmp09d2ko...

During her visit, she spent time learning more about our work and the impact of our community. She spoke with Chef Denisa, who shared how being part of Sanctuary Cookalongs has helped her grow in confidence, strengthen her English, and develop her teaching skills.

Sumaiya also interviewed our newest facilitator, Halima, who is building her leadership skills in her new role, as well as our Chair, Abida, whose wisdom and guidance continue to support and inspire everyone involved.

We are incredibly proud to see our charity featured by the BBC and to share the stories of the participants who make Sanctuary Cookalongs what it is.

04/05/2026

Our first Cancer Awareness session started on Monday 13th April, with an interactive session on bowel cancer, led by Shahida from the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

After an hour of Zumba with Fatima, the health hour began with a practical activity where the women were shown a diagram of the human body and its organs and had to identify where the bowels are. It’s safe to say everyone knows their anatomy! The session continued with a discussion of the bowel screening processes and recognising signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.

If you have any concerns about bowel cancer, see https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/bowel-cancer-screening/

Kamila cooked a delicious lunch of Sri Lankan Rice Porridge and and Nursel baked fresh bread for everyone to enjoy after such an active and informative two hours.

29/04/2026

On Wednesday 1st April, Sanctuary Cookalongs launched the first of a six-week ESOL programme at The Foxton Centre.

The session was led by Anan, who introduced learners to prepositions of time alongside vocabulary and phrases related to daily routines, such as “I start work at 9am.” Participants had the opportunity to practice speaking and build confidence in everyday communication.

Our talented chefs Kamila and Abida prepared a Sri Lankan delicacy in the kitchen, giving learners a chance to debrief and relax after an informative class. 😋

Address

Preston

Telephone

+447754622911

Website

https://www.instagram.com/sanctuary_cookalong/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sanctuary Cookalongs posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Interior Service in Preston?