Start a Kitchen

Starting a Community Kitchen

If you are interested in starting up your own Community Kitchen, there are a few key steps to consider.

Before you begin, set up a Working Group. This group will work together to set up the Community Kitchen. Members of this group may include potential participants, group leaders, volunteers or other organisations.

Steps to starting a Community Kitchen:

1) Identify the need

As a Working Group, identify who the Community Kitchen is being run for, when it will run, and what resources are needed for it to be able to run.

2) Identify potential partners

Partnerships are essential! They can help provide Kitchens with kitchen facilities, equipment, transport, food produce, referrals and more. The number and types of organisations you partner with will depend on the Community Kitchens needs.

3) Locate a kitchen

Community Kitchens can be held anywhere in the community there is a kitchen. The Working Group may have a particular kitchen in mind, but if not, a suitable kitchen will need to be found. Places where Community Kitchens could be held include:

    • Churches
    • Schools
    • Community centres
    • Community organisations
    • Neighbourhood centres
    • Men’s Sheds
    • Workplaces

When a Kitchen is located check that it is suitable, and work out what kitchen equipment and pantry items are needed.

4) Recruit group leaders

Group Leaders help the Community Kitchen to run smoothly. They can be paid employees or volunteers. Their role is to assist participants to run and participate in the Community Kitchen – not do everything themselves. It is recommended that there are at least two Group Leaders so they can share responsibilities and support each other in the role. Over time participants may like to become a Group Leader and this is encouraged.

5) Promote you kitchen

Promote your new Community Kitchen!
There is a generic Community Kitchens Brochure available or you can create your own.

For more information on setting up and running a Community Kitchen please see the Templates and Resources page of this website.