Cooking club brings women together

Maggie Howlett, Bella Katusima and Aiysha Rameem enjoying the food they made at the class

A cooking club in Rochdale is uniting women of different ethnic backgrounds.

Participants of Pakistani, British, African, Portugese and Kurdish heritage have joined East Meets West to share recipes, learn culinary skills and meet new friends.

The group, run by Great Places Housing Group, meets at the Fusion Flava café at the Unique Enterprise Centre in Wardleworth and is so successful that it is hoped another branch could be launched in Middleton, and that health service providers can get involved.

Azmat Khan, community cohesion officer for Great Places, said: “This is a chance for women to get out and meet people from other cultures who they might not otherwise have got to know.

“They are sharing cooking tips and wholesome and healthy recipes with each other as well as getting lessons with Fusion Flava owner Anwar Mughal.

“This shows how food can really bring people together. Everyone is interested in cooking and eating.”

Group member Bella Katusima said: “We have a really good time, cooking food and eating it.”

Sobia Akhtar added: “I’ve been learning to cook different things and also improving my English by talking to the other ladies.”


The project has the support of Rochdale Borough Council and is part of Great Places’ wider Let’s Live Together project aimed at boosting community cohesion