Claudia Winkleman gets the recipe for helping build community

Claudia chopped ingredients, stirred the soup and chatted to Alec, Terry, James and David about the difference the Men’s Grub Club has made to their lives. Cathy Halstead, marketing and communications manager at Cook for Good said, “She just rolled up her sleeves and piled in. I think our Grub Clubbers were charmed by her and she was charmed by them.”

The Men’s Grub Club is just one of the initiatives run by Cook for Good, a social enterprise based in London’s Kings Cross. Founded in 2019, it’s on a mission to help people living in and around the Priory Green housing estate cook hearty, healthy food and make friends with their neighbours.

Cathy said, “The Men’s Grub Club is for men aged 60 years and over who live on or around the estate. It’s a way to teach them some great cooking skills and bring them together. Some of them live on their own or are carers, so the social interaction is as important as the cooking.

“The men come in once a month on a Friday and they help decide what they want to cook – it's very collaborative. They work in pairs and a chef teaches them how to cook the meal. Afterwards they eat together and take some food home with them.

“The men have become great friends. We do a meal once a month where the whole community is invited and one of the things I love is seeing the Grub Club guys sitting together because they’ve become friends. It’s a life-affirming part of our work so it was the perfect thing for Claudia to take part in.”

In its early days, Cook for Good was supported by The National Lottery. Cathy said the funding “really helped us get on the map”. Nowadays, the project is about 80 per cent self-funded thanks to the income it gets from team-building cookery events attended by staff from businesses and corporations. Food cooked at these sessions is distributed to local people in Kings Cross via Cook for Good’s community pantry.

Claudia visited Cook for Good in her role as The National Lottery’s newest ambassador. The celebrated British television and radio presenter is helping us support and celebrate the incredible difference National Lottery players make to communities across the UK.

Claudia was accompanied by Michael, a National Lottery player. He grew up in Kings Cross and likes to volunteer at food banks in his spare time. Michael was keen to see how playing The National Lottery helps projects like Cook for Good change lives and build communities.

Cook for Good has had brushes with fame previously. Soup for Good, the cookbook it published last year, was reviewed by the American actor and foodie Stanley Tucci and both Nigella Lawson and Ed Balls have visited the project’s Kings Cross kitchen.

Even so, Claudia’s visit felt special. Cathy said, “Everyone loves Claudia. It means a lot that she showed such an interest and took the time to chat to all of the guys individually.”

Claudia is shining a spotlight on the life-changing impact made possible every time someone plays The National Lottery. It’s Because of You that amazing projects like Cook for Good can go from strength to strength. From funding grassroots projects to supporting the arts, heritage and sport, amazing things happen when you play The National Lottery.

15th December 2025