Jason joined us as our School Cook in Wingrave, Buckinghamshire, nearly one and a half years ago.
He’s had an unusual path to this work, having been a Senior Teaching Assistant at another school for eleven years.
A job goes sour
He loved the work as a teaching assistant to begin with. He found it rewarding, enjoyed working with his colleagues, and felt he was making a positive contribution to children’s lives.
Then a new management team took over the school, and things began to change for the worse.
A break from working
The new pressure of the job and lack of management support took such a toll on Jason’s mental health that he left the job and needed to take a break from working.
Turning to cooking
After a while, Jason saw our advert for a School Cook. He went back and forth wondering whether to apply, but it was a part-time role, he already had an interest in cooking, and so he decided to apply.
The job has been a great fit for Jason. His interest in cooking – and especially in baking – has grown and he has come up with all kinds of tips and tricks, such as adding dark chocolate to soften the taste of chilli, and preparing the same base meals which he can adapt to children’s individual tastes and dietary requirements.
A talent for baking
He’s also taken up baking in a big way, baking a special cake for the last School Prom, and is currently doing a special baking course. You can see a selection of his incredible bakes below.
His experience has made Jason very aware of the challenges of mental health and how the right environment can help. He said:
The staff here really support me. It makes such a difference when someone simply takes a moment to ask how you are, and really listens.
Making connections
Drawing on his own experience, Jason’s made little gift packs for staff, and has run staff quizzes in the evenings which everyone has enjoyed and has given people a chance to unwind and make connections with each other.
Family and football
Jason enjoys family life, with four generations of his family living under the same roof. In his spare time, Jason's a big football fan. He follows Arsenal but also spends time attending matches at the nearby MK Dons stadium.
