We’re officially a registered charity…!

So, here we are. Auntie’s Cookery Academy is now a fully registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and it feels like one of those moments where you stop, breathe, and realise just how far things have come in a short space of time.

When we launched back in May 2024, we didn’t have grand plans or polished strategies. We just knew that food has the power to change things for young people who are stepping into adulthood without the safety nets many of us take for granted. Since then, we’ve spent a lot of time listening, learning and understanding what young people in Milton Keynes are actually up against.

And the same message kept coming back: practical food skills really matter.

Cooking, budgeting, meal planning… the simple stuff that quietly builds confidence and makes independence feel achievable rather than overwhelming.

What started as a small idea between co-founders has turned into something much bigger, thanks to partners, local leaders and, most importantly, the young people who’ve taken a chance on us and walked into our sessions with curiosity and courage.

It’s been quite a year, too. Emily-Jane finished her degree in Future Food & Culinary Management with first class honours, and her research added even more weight to what we see every day: learning to cook genuinely supports wellbeing, resilience and independence.

We also refreshed our brand, launched a new website, and delivered our first pilot with YMCA Northamptonshire, working with young adults on the brink of moving into their own homes. Every session made the mission feel more real.

And now, becoming a CIO gives us the stability to grow all of this properly. It sets us up to reach more 18 to 25 year olds, strengthen our partnerships, and take bolder steps as we plan for 2026.

We’ve got ideas bubbling away already. More opportunities for young people to build confidence in environments that feel safe and supportive.

Belle put it nicely when she said that "CIO status gives us a foundation to build something lasting for Milton Keynes."

And Emily, as ever, brought it back to the heart of things: "the bottom line is... we can use food as a tool for empowerment."

They’re both right. This next chapter feels like a chance to do even more of what we set out to do in the first place.

If you’d like to be part of it, we’d love to hear from you. Donations, sponsorships, collaborations… it all helps us bring new programmes to life in 2026.

You can find out more on our website or connect with us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.