08 May 2026

New community kitchen opens in Bradford to support independent living

Five adults stand side by side in a small kitchen area, facing the camera. Some wear business attire while one person wears an apron. Kitchen cabinets and worktops are visible behind them, and one person holds a leaflet or booklet.

Customers at Woodworth House and Oakvale now have a new place to cook, learn and build confidence, with a brand-new community kitchen now open!

The new kitchen is all thanks to a collaboration between our Supported Housing Team, who manage the scheme, and Creative Support, commissioned by Bradford Council to provide mental health support for customers at the scheme.

What was once an unused arts and crafts room has been turned into a bright, modern kitchen, helping customers, alongside Creative Support, build everyday skills that support independent living. It was our Supported Housing Team who spotted the potential in that empty space and got the ball rolling, working closely with Creative Support to figure out how it could be put to best use for customers.

The kitchen was donated by Howdens and installed by Equans. It includes everything needed to get started, from an air fryer and microwave to new crockery and a dishwasher. Our Supported Housing Team also made sure the electricals, white goods, crockery and utensils were all purchased and donated through the scheme budget, so the kitchen was fully kitted out and ready to go from day one.

The launch brought customers, colleagues and partners together to see the space for the first time. A live cooking demo from Stuart at Equans showed how quick and easy meals can be made using an air fryer, and it went down really well.

Gary Wardle's a Senior Supported Housing Officer and said:

"We're really pleased with how the kitchen has turned out - it's gone from an unused room to somewhere customers can truly call their own. It'll be a place where they can learn practical skills, grow in confidence and work towards greater independence, at their own pace, in their own time. Seeing everyone come together to make it happen has been amazing."

Paige Trossell, Service Manager at Creative Support, added:

"We're delighted with the new community kitchen. Everyone is excited to learn new, healthy, and delicious recipes in a space where they can connect with the local community. We'd like to say a special thank you to Yorkshire Housing, Howdens, and Equans who supported the project and helped us to achieve our goal."

This project shows what can happen when people work together with a clear purpose. From early ideas through to delivery, colleagues and partners worked side by side to create something that will make a real difference.

Thank you to everyone involved, including the asbestos team for turning around the survey quickly, and colleagues across assets and investment for helping bring the kitchen to life. The kitchen is now ready to use and will support customers to build skills, gain confidence and take steps towards living more independently.