Cotswold Food Network Grant Helping Young People Thrive

Headspace Cooking Project Reaches Halfway Milestone Thanks to Cotswold Food Network Grant

Headspace is delighted to share that we are now halfway through our exciting cooking and wellbeing project, made possible thanks to funding from the Cotswold Food Network through the Cotswold District Council Food Sustainability programme. The programme supports community initiatives that improve access to healthy food, strengthen community resilience and promote wellbeing across the district.

The project is funding 36 cooking sessions throughout 2026 as part of our wider wellbeing programme. Each session brings together up to six young people to prepare, cook and share healthy meals in a safe and supportive environment.

While learning practical cooking skills is an important part of the programme, the sessions are about much more than food. They provide opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop independence, strengthen friendships and improve their emotional wellbeing.

Many of the young people attending Headspace experience anxiety, low self-esteem, social isolation or challenges engaging with education. Cooking together creates a relaxed and informal setting where conversations happen naturally, relationships develop and young people can experience a sense of achievement.

The sessions also support the wider aims of the Cotswold Food Network, which is working to improve food sustainability, access to nutritious food and community resilience across the district.

Paul Heming, CEO of Headspace, said:

"We're incredibly grateful to the Cotswold Food Network for supporting this project. The cooking sessions have quickly become one of the highlights of our wellbeing programme. Young people are not only learning valuable life skills but are also growing in confidence, building friendships and enjoying positive experiences around food and healthy eating."

With half of the sessions now delivered, we have already seen young people trying new foods, developing practical kitchen skills and becoming more confident working alongside their peers. The project continues throughout the year and remains an important part of our commitment to providing early intervention mental health and wellbeing support for young people across the North Cotswolds.

We would like to thank the Cotswold Food Network and Cotswold District Council for their support and investment in the wellbeing of young people in our community.