FLAVA: Eden Park Takeover

During the holidays, we brought families together at Orion Eden Park in partnership with PREPT Foundation for a special FLAVA session full of flavour and connection. Parents and children cooked side by side, creating a beautiful black bean stew served with sweet plantain and fresh coleslaw. The kitchen was full of laughter, teamwork, and real conversation — exactly what the holidays should feel like. Moments like this remind us that when families cook together, they grow together.

FLAVA x PREPT Foundation

We were proud to deliver this session in partnership with PREPT Foundation, an organisation doing powerful work in schools to support young people through mentoring, personal development, and practical life skills. Their focus on building confidence, resilience, and opportunity for students aligns so closely with what FLAVA stands for. Having Chef Harriet join us made it even more special — she led our families in creating a beautiful black bean stew from scratch, guiding parents and children step by step as they chopped, stirred, tasted, and learned together. It was more than just cooking; it was education, empowerment, and connection all in one room. Partnerships like this remind us how strong community impact can be when organisations come together with the same heart.

The MP came to Cook

We were also honoured to welcome Liam Conlon, MP for Beckenham and Penge, who didn’t just pop in to observe — he rolled up his sleeves and cooked alongside our families. Seeing a local leader fully step into the kitchen, laughing, stirring pots, and connecting with parents and children was such a powerful moment. It showed our young people that community leaders genuinely care and are willing to be present. Those shared moments around the stove weren’t just symbolic — they were real, human, and unforgettable

The Power of Cooking

There’s something powerful about watching children cook in a room full of families — because it directly responds to what young people have been telling us. In our research with 100+ adolescents, 82% said they want to spend more time with their parents, and 72% said they’d be excited about hands-on food education. When we see kids laughing in the kitchen, proudly serving what they’ve made, and talking with their parents without screens in sight, it’s more than a nice moment — it’s the data coming to life. FLAVA isn’t guessing what families need. We’re building spaces based on what young people have already asked for.

Two sisters. One table. One shared moment.

There’s something so special about siblings cooking side by side — the quiet teamwork, the little laughs, the “let me do it!” moments. In a world that moves fast and pulls families in different directions, this is what we’re protecting. Not just meals, but memories. Not just recipes, but relationships. Because years from now, they might not remember the exact ingredients… but they’ll remember that they were together. And that’s the real FLAVA.