Man with a Pan is a successful community based cookery and healthy eating project for men over 60, first piloted in 2015 by The Organic Cookery School, a not for profit community cookery school working in Surrey and Hampshire. Working in partnership with AgeUK Surrey, we raised funds for a pilot project which aimed to provide hands on cookery and nutrition classes to older men, with the following targeting criteria: widowed, looking after an ill partner/carer responsibilities, living on own/isolated, and/or with health issues.

The project was an overwhelming success with over 800 men aged between 55 and 87 year attending over 4 years. Positive outcomes included more confidence and independence in cooking meals from scratch, increased consumption (and enjoyment) of vegetables and fruit, new friendships, decreased isolation/loneliness, better skills to manage a limited food budget/minimise food waste and increased take up of other local mens' projects such as mens' sheds and walking football. You can read more about these achievements here.

Fast-forward to 2022 - and our current BA Crowdfunder, which aims to relaunch Man with a Pan post-pandemic, and to meet the high levels of demand from community organisations who have noted increased social isolation and decreased engagement from older men in community activities which promote well-being, reduce isolation and improve mental health.

MAN WITH A PAN 2022-2023

Our first Man with a Pan courses will be scheduled for late 2022/early 2023, offering taster cookery workshops, followed by 6 - 8 week community based cookery courses in and around Bordon/Liphook, Aldershot/Farnham and Havant in East Hampshire.  If we reach our stretch target we will expand our programme to Guildford, Woking, Portsmouth, Southampton and Chichester, where we have a growing waiting list and strong community need.

Feedback from previous 'Man with a Pan' attendees:

I have learnt lots of new practical cookery skills, making pizza dough, baking and making scones, making soup and meatballs. I learnt about food safety, food labelling and about the correct amount of sugar and salt to use/eat. The course has been informative and well organised. All the staff and participants were very friendly and helpful. 

— Peter 

It has been great to watch the practical demonstrations and then having the chance to do it ourselves. I have learnt so many new cooking skills and made new social connections. 

— Ray 

I found it very interesting learning about the contents of our food and how much salt and sugar are in them and how this is not good to have too much sugar and salt. The tips for a low salt diet were useful. I also learnt that our diet should contain 5 portions of fruit or vegetables. 

— Tony 

Please consider supporting Man with a Pan in the community - we've devised a range of thank you rewards (including a thank you dedication in our upcoming Man with a Pan project cookbook, and a chance to join our end of project celebration lunches next Summer).

Every donation, no matter how small, will make a huge difference and help us reach more men over 60 who would benefit from cooking and learning in company.