Coming Autumn 2026

Our Life Lab – Food Foundations course is a six-week practical cooking skills programme designed for neurodivergent teenagers aged 15–19. The course supports the development of essential independent living skills through structured, sensory-aware, small-group cooking sessions. Participants will learn kitchen safety, meal planning, budgeting, and preparation of simple, nutritious meals in a calm and supportive environment. It is also an opportunity to learn to work collaboratively and improve communication skills.
Neurodivergent young people are disproportionately impacted by gaps in practical life skills education. Many families report that anxiety, sensory sensitivities, and executive functioning challenges make it difficult for their teenagers to build confidence in everyday tasks such as cooking and traditional school environments often prioritise academic attainment over functional independence skills. Additionally, many young people who are home educated, emotionally based school avoidant, or out of school entirely miss structured opportunities to learn cooking and food preparation skills.Without these skills, young people face increased risk of:

• Poor nutrition
• Reduced independence in adulthood
• Low self-confidence
• Increased reliance on family support

The Food Foundations course will directly address these gaps by providing accessible, neurodivergent-affirming life skills education.

Our aim is to:
• Increase confidence in kitchen environments
• Develop safe knife and heat skills
• Improve understanding of nutrition and budgeting
• Strengthen executive functioning skills through practical sequencing tasks
• Build social connection through shared cooking experiences

MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON.