the bridgebuilder diaries #8 Nurturing Wellbeing and Community
Nurturing Wellbeing and Community: The Journey of the Women’s Wellbeing Café
Since November 2024, we’ve been developing a project dedicated to supporting women from South Asian backgrounds to explore nutrition, wellbeing, and self-expression. From the outset, the pilot phase has exceeded expectations. The women have bonded, shared their stories, grown in confidence, and actively contributed to shaping the programme as it evolves.
At the heart of this initiative is the Women’s Wellbeing Café, which has been running a weekly programme of cookery classes focused on healthy South Asian cooking with a trained chef. Initially, the goal was to create a four-week programme that moved away from the conventional Mediterranean diet model—a framework that can feel limiting or inaccessible for many South Asian communities with rich, diverse culinary traditions. Instead, the classes emphasised reducing oil and sugar, increasing vegetable intake, and exploring authentic dishes from neighbouring Asian cuisines. Along the way, the chef highlighted familiar ingredients and techniques, demonstrating the shared culinary traditions and values across Asia.
The enthusiasm for these sessions led us to extend the programme for an additional eight weeks, introducing outdoor foraging and research trips. These excursions offered the women a chance to explore native British produce within a culturally familiar context. Highlights included:
Wild garlic fields in Washington
A dairy farm in Sunderland
English rose gardens in Northumberland
Cultivating native English pulses at home
Harvesting sour cherries and barberries around our community centre
These experiences encouraged the women to explore new spaces, deepen their appreciation of British nature, and creatively integrate native produce into their own culinary traditions.
The programme also sparked remarkable personal achievements. One participant, R, launched her first catering business from her home kitchen. She even demonstrated her cooking skills on stage at the Newcastle Food Festival to an audience of over 200 people. This opportunity allowed R—a woman navigating multiple marginalising identities—to stand alongside professional chefs with greater socioeconomic privilege, sending a powerful message about visibility, merit, and the value of her voice.
Beyond food and cooking, the Women’s Wellbeing Café has provided a vital safe space for South Asian women, particularly Muslim women. Many participants shared feelings of vulnerability or fear in public spaces, particularly while wearing the hijab, compounded by rising Islamophobic and racist incidents locally and nationally. The women also expressed concern about harmful online rhetoric and a reluctance to engage beyond family circles. Having a dedicated space to socialise, connect, and share experiences has not only strengthened their sense of agency but also supported mental wellbeing and reduced feelings of isolation.
The pilot of the Women’s Wellbeing Café has been more than a cooking programme—it has been a celebration of culture, resilience, and community. As it continues to grow, it reminds us of the profound impact that food, friendship, and safe spaces can have in fostering confidence, wellbeing, and empowerment.
Fozia Haider
