Community kitchen for children with disabilities takes shape
At The Way of the Horse in Trusthorpe, a new Learning Kitchen is bringing together growing, harvesting and cooking and the confidence that comes from learning something practical.
Founded by Dina Shale, The Way of the Horse supports children, young people and adults through work alongside horses.
It is a small charitable organisation supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), particularly those who struggle in traditional education settings or need a different environment in which to learn, regulate and build confidence.
With no riding involved, sessions offer opportunities to build trust, develop confidence and explore emotions in a calm countryside setting.
The Learning Kitchen extends that work, giving people another way to connect, learn and feel a sense of achievement.
Supported by funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the Seed to Plate Learning Kitchen will provide a space for hands-on cooking and life skills.
Dina says: “For some of the young people we support, a traditional classroom environment can be overwhelming. Here, learning can happen alongside our horses, in the vegetable garden, while collecting eggs and produce, or around a kitchen worktop creating something they can feel proud of.
“We want to create a place where children can learn at their own pace, develop practical life skills, build confidence and discover that learning doesn't have to look the same for everyone.”
“We want people to experience the whole journey — from growing and picking ingredients to preparing something they can sit down and enjoy,” she explains. “There is so much learning in that process. Following a recipe, working together, trying something unfamiliar and seeing what you have made can all help build confidence.”
She wants people to realise it actually takes less time than opening a packet and that the health benefits are massively beneficial.
The kitchen will support the organisation’s work with children and young people. Activities will offer opportunities to practise everyday skills at a manageable pace, from weighing ingredients and planning meals to preparing food and clearing up afterwards.
The project also connects with The Pantry, Dina’s small on-site bakery, where homemade cakes, scones and savoury bakes bring another welcome reason for local people to visit. The pantry started
to be different and cook healthy cakes and soda bread, something that Dina is passionate about as she has an allergy to yeast.
The Pantry and the Learning Kitchen share a love of good food and making things by hand. Alongside the organisation’s work with horses, they reflect Dina’s ambition to create a place where people can
discover their abilities through everyday experiences.
“Sometimes the starting point is spending time beside a horse. Sometimes it is picking an apple or baking a scone,” says Dina. “We want to give people opportunities to take part, feel welcome and discover what they can do.”
The kitchen is being developed in an American ‘RV’ (recreational vehicle), with renovation work underway to create a practical space for cooking and learning, with the hope of completion in December. Dina hopes the project will also spark connections with people who would like to contribute their skills, share ideas or help others discover what is happening on their doorstep.
“We are very grateful for the National Lottery support that is helping us bring this project to life,” she adds. “We look forward to welcoming people and sharing what we are creating here in Trusthorpe.”
To learn more about the Learning Kitchen, The Pantry and The Way of the Horse, visit www.thewayofthehorse.co.uk or follow The Way of the Horse and The Pantry on social media.