Auntie’s Cookery Academy has raised an incredible £2,228 at its first fundraising event, bringing the charity within £772 of its £3,000 target to help equip its new training kitchen.

But to understand why that kitchen matters, founder Emily-Jane Dale asks one simple question.

Who taught you?

“When I speak about Auntie’s Cookery Academy, I often ask everyone in the room who knows how to make mashed potato from scratch,” explains Emily-Jane.

“Almost every hand goes up. Then I ask, ‘Who taught you?’ and the room goes quiet. Eventually, you hear a few people say Mum, Nan, Dad or an auntie.”

It’s a simple question, but it highlights something many of us rarely consider.

Most of the basic skills we use every day were taught to us by someone.

Emily-Jane remembers being four or five years old, standing on a chair in the kitchen. Her mum was making shepherd’s pie, and she was counting potatoes into the saucepan.

“It wasn’t a cookery lesson. I was just learning without realising I was learning.”

Those small moments add up. Cooking, shopping, budgeting and managing a home can feel like basic knowledge. However, for a young person who hasn’t had someone consistently there to show them, independence can look very different.

That’s why Auntie’s Cookery Academy exists.

£2,228 raised in one night

On Thursday 20th August, businesses, supporters and members of the local community came together for Auntie’s Cookery Academy’s first Quiz & Musical Bingo Night.

The result was an incredible £2,227.86 raised in one evening.

The charity had set an ambitious target of £3,000. Therefore, the event has taken ACA to within just £772.14 of its goal.

The money will help turn the charity’s new premises into a working training kitchen. Funds will go towards ovens, hobs, cookware, knives, chopping boards and other essential equipment.

However, the equipment is only the beginning.

The kitchen will provide a place where care-experienced and vulnerable young people can develop practical cookery and independent living skills. Through food, they will learn about budgeting, nutrition, planning and making informed choices.

Most importantly, they will have the opportunity to learn by doing.

A community effort

The evening was made possible by an extraordinary amount of support from Northamptonshire businesses and individuals.

55 Group, led by Chris Webb, sponsored the drinks, while Medisec Ltd, represented by Ben Hollis, supported the event as venue sponsor. Paul Thomas and TNT also made a generous donation.

Meanwhile, ITFixio Ltd’s Vasiliki Fragkou and Nik Gazis supported the event and donated beer and wine hampers for the raffle.

Local businesses and supporters donated food, raffle prizes, services, equipment and their time. These included Caz Deverson, GymBlok, Damo the Viking, Hair and Beauty Bar, McManus Pub Co., Hilton, Carl Peach, Richard Liverman and Nick Galway.

Behind the scenes, Simon Cox, Annabelle Lawrence and Elizabeth Micklem gave their time to help bring the event together, while Emma Kendrick kept guests entertained as MC throughout the evening.

Finally, The Manor Restaurant at Tresham College, part of The Bedford College Group, stepped in at very short notice and donated the venue for the evening.

Emily-Jane said:

“To raise £2,228 at our very first fundraiser is incredible. But what has meant even more is seeing how many people and businesses have chosen to get behind us.

“Every sponsor, donation, raffle prize and ticket has moved us closer to opening our kitchen and welcoming our first young people.

“We’re not simply trying to teach someone how to cook. We’re trying to give young people the opportunity to learn the everyday skills many of us were fortunate enough to be taught without even realising it.”

Just £772 to go

With £2,228 raised, Auntie’s Cookery Academy is now just £772 away from its £3,000 fundraising target.

The charity is continuing to seek support from businesses and individuals who would like to help equip the new kitchen.

Because sometimes independence starts with something very small.

Someone taking the time to show you how.