Our school dinner meals go down a storm

A desire to pay it forward led Samantha Couzens to meeting her best friend Penny Hill, and the pair have been cooking together ever since

- PUNTEHA VAN TERHEYDEN

Samantha Couzens, 27, was new to Walthamstow when she volunteered to cook meals at a local hostel in 2019. She had no idea it would lead her to friendship and deep-rooted fulfilment.

"I'd been busy cooking Thursday night dinners on my own when I learned another volunteer who lived a couple of roads over would be joining me," Samantha, a food photographer, recalls. "I felt nervous, but we walked to the hostel together, and by the time we arrived, I felt like I'd known Penny forever.

"Penny is positive, kind and confident. She doesn't shy away from doing things, often joining local marches to stand up for the things she believes in, and is a real joy to be around. It didn't take long for us to become good friends."

Feeling that it was a privilege to make a living in the food industry, Samantha wanted to pay her good fortune forward - a philosophy Penny, 71, shared. The pair, who both lived alone at the time, now love cooking what they call "school dinner" meals every Thursday at Branches in Walthamstow, a charity that provides support for single homeless people.

Samantha says: "Food is the great leveller. Whatever your life story, we all like to sit down to a nice meal, rub our hands together, and tuck in with good company. Penny and I share the same desire to help others with this basic human need."

The duo meal-plan together, providing a meat and vegetarian main as well as pudding for 12-16 people, using ingredients donated to the hostel each week.