 | AboutThe Men's Kitchen Association Limited is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee which had its origins on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Our aim is to provide an environment for older men to gather and prepare a meal together, guided by an experienced cooking instructor. Our wish is that the blokes who join us will not only learn some basic cooking skills and how to follow a recipe, but also make some great mates in the process. Entirely operated by volunteers, each cooking session generally includes two cooking instructors, about 8-10 blokes and a coordinator who organizes the cooking sessions from the physical aspects. The Men’s Kitchen operates in districts which are aligned with local government areas. This organisation structure has been selected to best engage with local councils which have been huge supporters of the Men’s Kitchen. For details on specific districts refer to the “Where we cook” page of this website. |
About our HistoryIn 2010, NSWH commenced a Men's Carer Cooking Program in the Tramshed Community Centre in Narrabeen. At the end of 2015, the Tramshed closed its operations for renovations the group relocated to Forestville and, with the fantastic support of Frenchs Forest Rotary, formed Forest Men's Kitchen Association Incorporated as a not-for-profit organisation. This fledgling association aimed to establish and support safe, supportive and instructive environments where older men could learn cooking skills. Our target demographic was those men over sixty years, (30,000 living on the Northern Beaches) who were looking to increase their confidence in the kitchen or had to take over the role of preparing meals, and most importantly, wanted to join a group of men who enjoy each other's company while preparing a meal. When we moved from the Tramshed, just five members plus our Executive Cooking Instructor relocated to the Frenchs Forest area. At the end of December 2016 we had more than doubled that membership and gained a second Cooking Instructor. By the end of 2017 we had three cooking instructors, three monthly cooking sessions and around 30 members. |  |
 | About our HistoryIn April 2018, the Northern Beaches Mayor came to lunch, which was a great opportunity for us to show off our cooking skills and have Cr Regan appreciate what the Council had been supporting over the last couple of years. At that lunch several photos were taken and in September of that year an article appeared in the Peninsula Living magazine about the Men's Kitchen. That one article attracted about 25 new members. By early 2020 we had 80+ members, 20 cooking instructors, three Kitchens and nine monthly cooking sessions taking place. During the pandemic isolation period that ceased our physical cooking session operations for the remainder of that year we undertook the transition to the Men’s Kitchen Association Limited as a company limited by guarantee. |
About the organisationOur formal details are:
Our Constitution |  |