Project name: CashBack Community Cooking
Age range: 10-18 years
Community Cooking in Craigmillar supports young people aged 10-18 in Craigmillar, Niddrie and surrounding areas. The project’s cookery sessions offer a safe, engaging space that reduces isolation and strengthens trust. It provides participants with something immediate and lasting: nourishment, purpose and skills to take forward.
Many participants come from disadvantaged backgrounds where crime, poor mental health and limited opportunity are daily realities. By combining practical training and community activity, the project supports young people to make positive choices, strengthen belonging and build skills.
Participants gain accredited food hygiene qualifications, hands-on kitchen skills and a clear understanding of healthy, affordable cooking. They also build confidence, social skills and a supportive peer group. Food becomes a medium to explore self-esteem, teamwork, routine and future aspirations.
The project works with local police, youth workers and schools to tailor each programme to individual needs. A progression route is built in: young people can move into further classes, volunteering, longer-term training or an employability pathway.
Meals and food will also attract people into other useful services, events and interventions locally. Young people will help plan and deliver community meals and events (including Craigmillar Community Campfire). This gives them a positive role in their neighbourhood, helping them feel valued and connected while bringing different parts of the community together.
Through organising and food, the project will host events that bring the community together, reducing antisocial behaviour while ensuring people have a healthy meal.
Local authority areas:
Edinburgh City
