Since 2020 to the present day, we have been supporting local families who are experiencing food and fuel insecurity.

BESPOKE COOKERY CLASSES

Over the last three years, we have run 8 groups over several weeks each supporting over 30 mums and dads and over 70 dependents in South Oxfordshire who have been struggling financially during the pandemic with cookery classes using food bank ingredients and seasonal vegetables. This included a small group of adults with special needs living independently and domestic abuse surivors.

We grow as much of our own fruit and vegetables as we can in our raised beds. We use surplus food from The Oxford Food Hub and The Mix in Wantage. We signpost families to the local food larders, food banks and Vale Community Impact.

We make realistic family recipes so families can take home nutritional meals with left overs for other days or to freeze.

CA May 2021 “I have experienced  making new friends coming to Maymessy , chatting and feeling less lonely .  Normally it is just me and the walls  at home.  I have learnt how to cook good recipes and will use that at home and want to do courses at Maymessy”

ST May 2021 '“The cookery classes have given me  more  confidence.  I know about  healthy eating.  Since coming to Maymessy, I have joined the gym, went on a portion control class and am less anxious and will come back with my whole  family to learn more cookery classes.  I love coming here and want to come back to learn more things .  I have the confidence now to find a  course to train as a nail bar person.  I feel I have taken back control.”

SB- “I am learning a lot about veg – really enjoying it and never touched any of these veg apart from tin tomatoes.  Really educational – did not realise how easy it was to cook from fresh. “

CW – “Since coming to Maymessy and being at the cookery club I am more confident and independent. I got a taxi on my own here and went without my friend .  I never would have gone on a course on my own before.  My confidence levels have grown so much and I am looking into joining the gym and going on more courses Maymessy and maybe look into other courses elsewhere .   I have also found out about the Mix and  surplus food  in Wantage.  Love it here and all my worries go away while I am here.  I want to buy some scales so my son can help me cook in the future.

Supporting Style Acre charity

We have run 32 classes since 2022 supporting 65 participants from Style Acre charity and local adults with complex needs. We hosted a picnic for all participants on 8th June 23.

We have worked with a variety of different needs, tastes, allergies, sounds and textures to create a cook book for all at Style Acre and beyond.

We have also had so much fun and laughs along the way.

We have adored everyone of the individuals and miss them.

Thank you to The Funding Network for the funding in 2022 and for South and Vale for funding these classes in 2024.

Please see our cookbook for Style acre which you can purchase here

Style acre cookbook

“Maymessy is bespoke and unique. The groups were able to pick produce from the garden. Everything in the kitchen and buildings have been adapted so those with wheelchairs and complex needs can be involved and the team and volunteers are so accommodating, thoughtful and caring. ”

— ANITA POWELL , HEAD OF WELLNESS AT STYLE ACRE 2022

 FRIENDSHIPS

Maymessy reduces loneliness and increases integration into Oxfordshire . We have supported refugee women from the charity Refugee Resource to integrate into Oxfordshire by providing skill sharing workshops with Wellington College, a befriending program with Oxfordshire mums and mentorship to help them start a food related businesses.