Finding community in the kitchen
Gary lives in Llanelli, where he is a master of the art of growing bonsai trees. Gary’s first encounter with Cegin y Bobl was attending a six-week home cookery course in Llanelli.
Although Gary liked cooking, he didn’t cook from scratch much at home, and was keen to gain more skills. At a home cookery course run by Cegin y Bobl, Gary met volunteer Steve, who encouraged him to join in at Cegin Llanelli.
“My passion is bonsai trees, of which I have over 100. I enjoy the styling aspect of the hobby.”
“I enjoy cooking for myself. I do not have any professional kitchen experience or qualifications. I have muscular dystrophy which means I’m a wheelchair user.”
Gary first came to the Antioch café looking for kitchen work experience. This is something he was struggling to find, as standard commercial kitchen worktops tend to be too high for him when seated in his wheelchair. The low work tables in Cegin y Bobl’s teaching kitchen work well for Gary. Tim Garrett, one of the charity’s chef-teachers has even given Gary the accolade of ‘fastest veg prepper’.
After completing his food hygiene course, Gary joined Cegin y Bobl as one of the regular volunteers for Cegin Llanelli, a free community cookalong and meal which takes place every Monday at The Antioch Centre. Since then, Gary hasn’t missed a single session.
“Usually I’m stuck in the house, so it’s good to get out to volunteer. I do not work and like to support my community for a couple of hours per week. Being disabled, I’m on the receiving end of care from lots of people, so it feels good to be on the other side, giving back.”
Gary,
Volunteer
Cegin Llanelli
Gary is always one of the last volunteers in the kitchen at the end of a shift. The only exception to this was when he needed to rush home during the heatwave, to water his bonsai trees. Gary is a champion grower, winning prizes for his plants. We were grateful for his donation of some plants for our new planters at our teaching kitchen in Llaneli, and for all the knowledge and enthusiasm he shares.
Gary has cemented a firm friendship with fellow volunteer Steve. They can always be found in the kitchen at the end of a shift, steering clear of the crowds in the cafe and getting through the piles of washing-up. The atmosphere in the kitchen wouldn’t be the same without this quick-witted duo.
“I feel full after volunteering, and not just because of the lunch we cook! I feel good that there’s a group of people who are going to have a healthy plate of food.”
