Gem's Wholesome Kitchen hosting free cooking workshops for kids online

“My mum taught me to cook,” she says. “I come from a big family where we didn’t have much money. My mum was a nurse and we had chores and I would swap washing up for cooking as I loved it so much.”

Now aged 41 she wants to share this passion with tweens and teenagers.

“I think it is so important to teach kids to cook as now people are so busy that we do tend to opt for convenience and speed, but you can make things that are quick, easy, healthy and tasty.”

The first workshop for tweens took place on March 14 and sold out.

The fun and informative session were led by Gemma and her assistant, daughter Carmen.

Carmen says: “Tweens are young teenagers, so aged nine to 13.

“I think it is a great skill to learn to cook as if you are hungry you can make yourself something and it gives you some independence.”

For Gemma the workshops aren’t just about giving people the skills to cook for themselves she also wants to educate people about how food can impact their mental wellbeing.

“Kids have a lot going on now,” she says.

“Many feel anxious about so many things, and there is so much they have to deal with be it exams or the pressure of social media.