It is designed to help address community-level challenges around mental health, physical wellbeing and the cost-of-living crisis in the area. 

The kitchen, which launches on 14 June, is a pilot programme that will empower and upskill local Market residents in a community setting, providing practical skills, knowledge and experience around preparing and cooking a variety of locally sourced, low-cost and nutritious meals. 

The programme sits within a broader framework of collaboration between Queen’s Communities and Place (QCAP) and the Market Development Association, finding solutions to persistent challenges, tackling disadvantage, and improving outcomes for individuals, families and the community.

It seeks to inspire long-term behavioural change, achieving healthier results for individuals and families. Queen’s therefore secured funding for mobile kitchens and cooking kits to make essential equipment for healthy choices accessible to all, and facilitated training sessions that directly translate to home-life. 

The Community Wellbeing Kitchen will also provide tailored, facilitated information sessions on topics aligned with mental health, physical wellbeing and cost of living. These will be delivered by relevant experts, in an informal manner, described by residents as ‘a conversation around the kitchen table.’

Dr Karen Mc Guigan, QCAP Community Health and Wellbeing Lead, said:

“The CWK looks to tackle community level challenges, while also responding to current calls in the health literature for innovative responses to rates of mental health issues, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease locally. The CWK highlights the related risk factors and the link to lifestyle behaviours within the facilitated information sessions. The CWK provides an innovative, practical, agile and applied response to community challenge.”

In-keeping with the co-development and creation approach adopted by QCAP across its work in addressing place-based challenges, the project exemplifies an empowerment approach through its training and upskilling of Market residents. 

Project participants have undergone training with Belfast Trust’s Public Health Dieticians, allowing them to progress onto leading sessions, allowing greater ownership and sustainability of the kitchen’s initiative within the community. 

One community facilitator commented that: 
“The CWK is more than just a project; it’s a collaborative effort to build a healthier, more resilient Market community.”

Ciarán Hargey, from the Market Development Association highlighted:

“Diet is fundamental to a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. In fitness we would always say, ‘no amount of training can outrun a bad diet’. We are constantly bombarded with advertisements for convenience and ultra-processed food and the consumption of which have contributed to the growth of chronic illness throughout societies worldwide. It is time that we take back ownership of our own and family diets. Keep it simple, keep it wholesome, keep us healthy.” 

The pilot builds on an effective model of practice, the Cook IT programme which combines broken-down, module material with practical cookery sessions.

Over time, the kitchen’s initiative has the scalable potential to reach and resonate with other communities, growing its long-term impact. 

Welcoming the launch of the initiative, Dr Ryan Feeney, Vice-President of Strategic Engagement and External Affairs stated:

“Last week the University pledged to become a Civic University. In doing this, we committed to giving our best back to the people and place around us. The Community Wellbeing Kitchen in the Market area is a really great example of how Queen’s can be an important asset in addressing broader societal issues around health, wellbeing and economic development by working in partnership with our local community partners.”