Students at Canterbury Christ Church University have chosen Kitchen Social and Cookery Club to receive a £5,000 grant as part of a hands-on module exploring philanthropy in action. The charity supports families facing food insecurity and health inequalities in Kent. The funding was distributed through Learning by Giving, an undergraduate module funded by Pears Foundation, which brings practical learning to projects. The initiative enables students to explore the role of philanthropy in contemporary society and apply their learning by awarding real funding to local causes.
Student-Led Grant Decision
This year, Occupational Therapy and Public Health students worked in partnership with the Kent Community Foundation to assess five funding applications and collectively decide how to allocate £5,000. After several weeks of research into local needs and community organisations, the students selected Kitchen Social and Cookery Club as the recipient of the full grant.
Natalie Smith, director of grants and impact and deputy chief executive at Kent Community Foundation, said: “Giving the students an insight into community grant-making, into local charities and grassroots groups is rewarding, and we can see that the students benefit from their involvement too. It's an innovative partnership that we're delighted to be part of.”
Academic Perspective
Dr Emily Lau, senior lecturer in Childhood Studies, and Project Lead for Learning by Giving, added: “Watching the students engage with social issues and explore the work of community organisations across Kent, applying their shared interdisciplinary knowledge from Occupational Therapy and Public Health, has been fascinating. I am delighted that they decided to fund the Kitchen Social and Cookery Club, and huge thanks go to our partners, Kent Community Foundation and Pears Foundation, for funding this innovative way of integrating the work of the community and voluntary sector into Higher Education.”
Charity Impact
Based in Thanet, where one in four children are affected by poverty, Kitchen Social and Cookery Club provides vital support to low-income households. Through a six-month programme, families receive ingredients, cookery and life skills training, and support with budgeting and meal planning, helping to improve confidence, as well as mental and physical health.
Lucy Gray, founder of Kitchen Social and Cookery Club, said: “The immediate impact of the grant is stability for our project and local vulnerable families. We will be able to purchase fresh foods alongside personal hygiene items.” Lucy explained that, in the past year, five children and young people under 16 had been bullied at school because their families could not afford basic items such as deodorant and toothpaste. She also highlighted that six girls had missed school during their menstrual cycle as their families could not afford sanitary products. She added that the support will help households build confidence, better manage the ongoing cost of living crisis, and ensure children and young people are more prepared and able to attend school.
Student Reflections
Simone Chung A On, a second year Public Health student, said: "Being part of the grant decision process gave me a real insight into how funding is considered. Knowing that our decisions would actually have an impact on the community made it all the more meaningful. It helped me see that decisions go beyond personal opinion and are instead based on the understanding of local needs, inequalities, and the potential for long-term impact."
Speaking about why she supported Kitchen Social and Cookery Club, Marion Simmonds, a third year Occupational Therapy student, added: “Food is a basic need; to have learned skills that will benefit people and children throughout their life, to understand food choices and health benefits is an important life skill.”
