d and often still is All ateas i find areasareactivitiesusuisefulusedulusefuluseful in my own support.

Food brings wnergyenergyenergy, wnrgyenergy that burns very quickly when battlbattling with yourself.amountdiscussionandfundingthisconnections ofbenefitsenergyThroughout the UK Mental Health issues are a factor of the modern era, mainly due to advancing medicine and a more inclusive culture. Whilst there are multiple institutions claiming to support Mental Health and those struggling with the daily battles many of these disorders bring, there are few that take action to provode the physical support required.

About me

I am a 25 year Army Veteran Chef, highly skilled and qualified in my trade alongside many supporting factors to teach and develop others in catering. In 2018 i experience a manic episode that resulted in gaining support of mental health services, in turn a diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Ordering and Planning ensued; alongside this Anxiety, Severe Depresion and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

My whole life changed, despite continually trying to maintain that control in 2021 it was decided to close my Military Career. Since then i have struggled on a daily basis, a keen, passionate and skilled; amitious chef unable to maintain control of his life. A lack of routine that had been known since age 16 and into a lifestyle that was alien.

Receiving support has been key in my own pathway, i now feel comfortable with my mental health and ready to use my passions and ambition to support others who may be facing struggles. This has taken time, many times and self understanding, but much of this support i‘ve had to search for and arrange myself.

Cook Savvy

Cook Savvy started as a social media and website stream to support others in producing home style food and reduce food waste, this led to including foraged ingredients and is gradually including home grown foods.

Part of understanding mental health is knowing what helps to calm you, for me that is working with food and being creative in the kitchen.

Having lived in Hampshire for many years and having dealt with supporting my children, who also have a number of diagnosed mental health issues, has shown that there is little safe space provided for people struggling. Little understanding from mainstream schooling and very little support post education to provide a haven for those struggling.

The Aim

It is my aim to investigate, plan, build and establish cook savvy as a place where mental health sufferers can come to, in safety, and learn some basic cooking skills. This may be simple skills to support themselves or enhance skills already held to better support their condition.

A safe haven that can be tapped into by all walks of life to constructively release some of the pressures felt by living with mental health disorders. A venue to express themselves in a catering sense thats safe, supported and allows for much needed respite where very little currently exists.

Why

Feeling i have the skills and using the additional aspects my disorders bring for the greater good in assisting others. Using my teaching, coaching and mentoring experience, my passion and my long developed skill in catering provides a baseline to build something to help, encourage and guide others in a similar position that i have found myself in.

How

To do this will take time, something i find i have much of at present. It will take a fair ampunt of research, doscussion amd exploring options to get the right findong streams in place so that thos support can hold longevity for those who need it.

This is all at the earliest stage and even at this stage costs are exceeding availability. This is where a collective help in yourselves is requested, to assist with donated funding enabling me to get off the ground, to make the right conmections to get cook savvy as a base for catering support to mental health sufferers in Hampshire. To have a plan that can make the reality a physical community asset that benegits the future of many many others.

Every little bit counts in the battle for mental health safe havens to support, guide and encourage self sufficiency, with food comes energy and with emergy comes the strength to fight (even if that fight is your own mind).