About

Pick, Cook & Eat is a hands-on charity on a mission to help children and young adults with special educational needs and learning disabilities to grow, cook, and thrive.

We do this by:

Getting stuck into the garden, learning how to grow fresh, tasty fruit and veg

Exploring nutrition in a way that’s fun

Rolling up our sleeves for some proper cooking and food prep

Building practical life skills—from chopping and stirring to confidence and independence

Overtown Manor, along with many other local businesses, was approached by Horizons College back in 2014 looking for work experience placements for their students: young adults aged 16-24 with severe or profound multiple learning difficulties and/or complex needs.

Two students started coming to Overtown and spending time with Nancy in the house undertaking general housekeeping tasks and cooking for guests. Every session is different depending on the particular needs of each individual.

In 2022 Horizons College asked if more students could come and start spending time working in the vegetable garden. Here, they have been learning how to grow their own food. They are involved in every aspect of gardening from sowing crops to composting. In 2024 Lucille joined Overtown and elevated the gardening aspect of what we were able to offer, introducing a greater variety of hands-on tasks for the students to participate in.

The fresh air and connection to nature has made for a wonderful learning space and the veg garden has flourished under Lucille’s watchful eye.

In the kitchen, the students enjoy learning to cook with Nancy. They are gaining life skills, but we have also seen developments in the participants on a much more personal level. We’ve witnessed some of them develop greater confidence, independence and social skills. None of this is possible without the help of the volunteers and co-workers who give their time to assist.

During the sessions, there is a heady mixture of exuberance, frustration, learning (us and the students) and joy. The sessions are certainly not easy, but with patience, both the garden and students continue to grow.

It wasn’t long before other groups approached us hoping to experience all there is to offer here and so in order to grow we have become a charity and “Pick, Cook and Eat” was born.

We recently welcomed BBC Wiltshire to talk about Pick, Cook & Eat. Read their article about us here.

We have also been featured in the Swindon Advertiser – read their article here.

If you have any questions regarding Pick, Cook & Eat, or would like to get involved please contact us via pickcookandeat@overtownmanor.co.uk