Meet Charmain

Tell us a little about yourself

I am a South African who moved to Bedford in June 2024. I’ve been a freelance writer and editor for almost 20 years. My  sister often says that she never believed I would learn to either cook or drive as I was a rather clumsy and poorly coordinated child and teenager – and I’ve proved her wrong on both counts! Health challenges focused my interest on cooking great food and packing as much nutritional value into dishes as I can. I am not a foodie who chases after famous chefs. I just love great food. Oh, and I love, love, love reading.

Why did you decide to volunteer with Food etc?

I found Food etc quite by accident,  via a small mention in the Bedford Independent online publication. As soon as I visited the website I knew it could be a match made in heaven. I’ve long held a vague dream of helping people to make better food choices and showing them that it doesn’t have to be difficult or boring. You can see how Food etc made that a reality!

What do you enjoy most about working with Food etc?

I love the social side of it. As a new arrival in Bedford, building some kind of social network was a priority for me, and the Food etc team very quickly felt like my tribe. Running the classes energises me and I love seeing how children and adults relax around ingredients and food prep and become more confident. In my role as volunteer coordinator, I enjoy finding the right volunteer for each group we work with, while the more general admin tasks give me valuable insight into the running of a CIC.

Have you had any challenges?

Cookery classes that don’t always go according to plan are a reality, but very often they are also the most memorable ones.

What would you say to someone considering volunteering with Food etc?

Do it! If you like what you see on the website, chances are it’s the place for you. And volunteering adds at least as much value to your life as it does to the lives of the people you work with.

What’s your go to healthy meal – inspire us?

Basically anything to which I can add a load of vegetables and fresh herbs to dial up flavour and nutritional value.

A favourite salad of mine is cooked couscous (or quinoa), mixed with olive oil and lemon juice, a handful of chopped dried apricots and a few spices. Add to that a mountain of chopped mixed herbs (such as parsley, coriander, mint, tarragon), chickpeas and chopped roasted almonds. So simple and so delicious.