ABOUT Munchkins kids cooking
Munchkins Kids Cooking was started in 2005 by Joy Neal, who with a team of fantastic teachers and teaching assistants has developed it into a thriving business which has a great local reputation, and a broad portfolio of projects.

Our latest exciting development is Blackheath Cooks – a cookery school and cookware retailer which offers courses for cooks of all ages and abilities, and stocks useful and beautiful cookery equipment. Check out www.BlackheathCooks.com for more information or visit us at 13 Old Dover Road, London SE3 7BT
Joy Neal:
Joy Neal I can't remember a time when I didn’t love being in the kitchen. Fortunately I have a very patient mum who taught me to cook and let me experiment, and 3 younger sisters who were (generally) happy to let me to boss them around and act as my sous chefs!

I trained as a primary school teacher at the Institute of Education, and started running kids cookery classes from home while I was studying. After teaching for 3 years in Deptford, SE London, I realised that there weren't many opportunities for kids to learn how to cook in school (despite my best efforts to teach every subject through cookery!) so I started Munchkins Kids Cooking in December 2005. And now I have the best job in the world cooking with the next generation of enthusiastic little chefs!

My latest challenge is launching cookery classes for adults – so I have been doing some extra training and taking courses, and am collaborating with a team of brilliant chefs and teachers to deliver a range of cookery courses at our new cookery school Blackheath Cooks.

My favourite thing to cook changes with every season. At the moment I’m completely obsessed with Indonesian cookery having just come back from a trip to Bali and taken lots of cookery classes there!
Sarah Wotton:
Sarah Wotton From a young age, I adopted the role of “Mum’s helper” in the kitchen (whether it was a help or not!). In my Mum’s eyes, that investment has now paid off and often the role is now reversed!

I studied for a BTEC in Early Years at college before completing a degree at Canterbury Christ Church University. In amongst studying, I worked at kids summer camps in America and in England, and then worked as a Teaching Assistant in London.

My passion for cooking has now been combined with the enjoyment I find in working with children. I find it thoroughly rewarding to teach children to cook, and have really enjoyed being part of the Munchkins team for the last 3 years.

My new role as Sales Manager at Blackheath Cooks allows me to turn my love of shopping into a job as I search out great cookery products for our customers! And I still have time to run Munchkins After School clubs and parties at our new premises.

My favourite thing to cook has to be Cakes – because they make people happy!
Judy Sheridan:
Judy Sheridan I have been a primary school teacher and SENCO in SE London for 20 years. I’ve known Joy since she was 4 years old and used to joke that one day I would work for her, so I was really pleased in 2006 when we embarked on Munchkins School Workshops together!

Being part of the Munchkins School team provides the perfect opportunity to cook with children in school and teach them how to eat healthily whilst having lots of fun!

I love cooking, but more than that I love eating! I love trying out new recipes and I especially love baking and making cakes and desserts…….not very healthy I know…. but irresistible!”
Sarah Bogan:
Sarah Bogan My family and I moved to London from Chicago over 3 years ago. I am a qualified primary school teacher with 10 years experience, and always enjoyed doing cooking and baking with my students to enrich their learning of different topics or themes.  I have 3 small children, who are pretty good eaters, but I always enjoy finding new ways to get them to eat their 5 a day! I've been working with Munchkins for 2 ½ years and I've loved the opportunity to use my teaching background in a new way. It's wonderful being part of the Munchkins team, whether working in classrooms, doing holiday clubs or birthday parties. The children are always so proud of what they've made on their own, with just a little help.

Personally, I love baking chocolate chip cookies (my American background!) and trying new recipes.
Alice Schlecht:
Alice I have been working with Munchkins for 4 years and have seen the company grow from small workshops in Joy's kitchen to large events of all ages, all over the country!

It's always great to introduce children to new flavours, techniques and skills, and I love being a part of that process.

As well as my passion for cooking and working with kids, I am a Design graduate from Norwich University College of the Arts and I hope to use my creative skills in the further development of Munchkins and Blackheath Cooks.
Ruth Conway:
Ruth Conway I've been working at Munchkins for about 2 and a half years now and have always loved it. I enjoy working with the younger children that come to Munchkins as it still amazes me just how much they are capable of doing themselves and how enthusiastic they can be when given the opportunity. I have also seen this very clearly in my other job as a special needs teaching assistant in a year 1 class. I also find it really exciting to see the older kids developing their skills and becoming really confident chiefs as I think it is such an important everyday skill to have.

My favourite recipe to cook at Munchkins has to be cheese straws. It's definitely a messy one but the kids always love them and so do I!
Annie Conway:
Annie Conway I am a trained children's nurse and Mum to 4 grown up children including Ruth who also works for Munchkins. I didn't really learn any cooking as a child so it was a shock to leave home and have to fend for myself. However I picked up some skills by observing family members over the years & playing around with recipes. My four children were great guinea pigs!

I have worked with the Munchkins team for just over 2 years. I mainly help with the holiday clubs but have also been involved with school workshops. I have an advanced washing up system which is second to none and heaven help anyone who interferes with it!

My favourite food to cook is Lasagne. I love the mix of flavours and all that cheese bubbling on the top & all my family love it. Total comfort food!
Rosie Jones:
Rosie Jones Hello! I am the Youth Worker at my local church and am currently two years into a degree in Youth Work and Ministry. I study and work in London, and get involved in any kind of work with young people presented to me! I really enjoy working with children and young people, especially when it involves food! I can easily say Munchkins is one of my favourite projects, not only is it a fun place, but somewhere kids can explore and experiment – the best way to learn! I have been working with Munchkins for 4 years I love watching children be given the tools to create something of their own, have a fun time doing it, and seeing them be proud of what they have achieved. It really is a very rewarding kind of work. My favourite thing to cook would have to be… Muffins, because I love eating them afterwards!