Our Impact
At Maymessy, we believe in creating opportunities for people to grow their skills, confidence and wellbeing through food, gardening and community. From teaching inclusive cookery to supporting NHS staff and mentoring women into business, our work celebrates the power of coming together, learning and sharing. This page highlights some of the recognition, press coverage, reports and real stories from those whose lives we’ve been proud to touch.
Awards and recognition
OACP Inspiration Award 2024
Recognised for delivering 32 cookery sessions for adults with learning disabilities in partnership with Style Acre, supporting 65 participants and staff. Featured by Maymessy and the University of Reading.
Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award, 2021
Founder Anna Richards received this prestigious honour for championing community wellbeing through cookery, gardening and creative learning initiatives. Coverage on People’s Health Trust, LinkedIn and Enspire Oxford.
WISE100 (Women in Social Enterprise) 2020
Anna Richards was named among the top 100 women in UK social enterprise – “showing Covid who's boss” by Pioneers Post.
Volunteer Hero award, 2020
Nominated by MP David Johnston for delivering care packages and homemade snacks to NHS staff during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Featured by Enspire Oxford,Maymessy and B4 Business.
Reports and publications
Social Impact Report 2017–2019
Social Impact Report 2022
Social Impact Report 2020
Maymessy Cookbook: Impact with Style Acre 2023–2024
Social Impact Report 2021
Impact by the numbers.
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for Style Acre, reaching 65 adults and staff between 2022–2024.
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logged in our garden and kitchen programmes in 2024.
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through cookery, wellbeing and teamwork workshops in 2024.
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through budget-friendly cookery and nutrition sessions.
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over 18 months to launch food businesses.
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with homemade snacks during COVID-19 first lockdown.
News and press coverage
Community events and workshops
Maymessy Magic – Round & About Oxfordshire
Food for Thought Cooking Workshops – Attain Education
Wantage’s Maymessy cookery school holding festival Sunday – Oxford Mail
Maymessy hosts family fun day – Oxford Mail
Supporting the NHS
Wantage cookery school donates to NHS frontline workers – Oxford Mail
Maymessy sends care packages to firefighters – Oxford Mail
Ray Collins Trust and Sainsbury’s help Maymessy deliver snacks to children’s hospital – Oxford Mail
Maymessy CIC supports children’s hospital JR – LinkedIn
Maymessy response to COVID-19 – LinkedIn
Mentoring and enterprise
Maymessy Refugee Week – LinkedIn
Volunteer Week nomination – LinkedIn
Ray Collins Trust helping hand to Maymessy – Oxford Mail
New businesses offered support to help elevate success – Oxford Mail
