Occupational Therapy News OTnews April 2019 | Page 46

FEATURE ACTIVITY
Cooking
for success
Mayuri Tokekar talks to OTnews about
the setting up of an award-winning
cookery project at a small special needs
school in North London
T
46 OTnews April 2019
hree years ago, occupational therapist
Mayuri Tokekar founded a ‘creative and
practical cooking’ initiative at the Holmewood
School in London, and together with the
occupational therapy assistant Ria Rattan, the two
have worked to develop the project into a unique
opportunity for students to develop pivotal life skills.
The Occupational Therapy Café started life as staff
searched for ways to help a student who was at risk of
exclusion because of his poor behaviour. After several
months, they discovered his interest in cooking and
developed a programme that swiftly improved his
conduct.
Keen to capitalise on his success, staff expanded
the project for other pupils, creating a café team of five
students, including a baker, senior chef and several
trainees, supported by occupational therapists.
Café members have not only improved their motor
skills through cooking, but also boosted their confidence,
navigating social situations such as dealing with
customers. Some students have enjoyed the project
so much that they now want to pursue a career in the
culinary field.
‘The project began when a student was struggling
to engage in all his school lessons, spending his time
outside the class, and was at risk of exclusion due to
poor academic participation,’ Mayuri reflects.
‘This was not just impacting on his learning and
development, but putting him under significant risk by
separating him from his peers, affecting his mental health
and wellbeing.’