Free five-week cooking courses start in September across the borough
6 August 2026 · By Boroughly editorial — AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
Cooking Up, a small Richmond-based charity, is running free five-week cooking courses at three locations across the borough this autumn, with classes beginning on 16 September 2026 in Ham, Hampton Hill and Whitton.
Each course consists of weekly 90-minute sessions in which participants cook a full meal and take it home with them. Friendly volunteers guide every session, and all recipes are designed to use hob-only equipment — no oven required. Ingredients are kept to a maximum of £1.50 per person per session, making the course genuinely accessible to anyone watching their food budget.
The September courses are free to join with no charge at the point of sign-up. If the September dates don't work, a second round of courses is planned for November.
Cooking Up's courses are aimed at adults who want to build confidence in the kitchen, whether they're cooking for themselves for the first time or looking to expand a limited repertoire on a tight budget. They can also be a good way to meet neighbours in a relaxed, practical setting.
Full course details and how to sign up are available through the council's news page. More from Richmond Council