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Cook, Connect & Save!

Want to cook delicious meals at home for less than £1 per portion? Bags of Taste’s Mentored Home Cooking Programme is here to help you do just that – and so much more!
Whether you’re new to cooking or just want to sharpen your skills, this free programme offers step-by-step support via WhatsApp or phone. You’ll learn to make tasty, healthy meals at your own pace, with guidance, videos, and tips from our friendly mentors.
🌟 What’s Included:

Starter pack with ingredients, basic equipment, and a local shopping guide
Easy-to-follow recipes like Special Fried Rice, Fish Curry, and Mattar Paneer – cheaper, healthier and tastier than takeaway!
Budgeting tips to help you save money while shopping and cooking
Fun group chats where you can make new friends and share your progress

🎓 And It Doesn’t End There…
Bags of Taste will be with you every step of the way – even after the programme ends! You’ll receive a graduation pack with a certificate and exciting new recipes that build on what you’ve learned, helping you continue your cooking journey and keep saving money.
You’ll also be invited to join our friendly online community, where you’ll find:

Recipes from around the world
Cooking videos and inspiration
Tips, ideas, and ongoing support
News
Young People image

Children and young people’s mental health in City & Hackney – What parents should know

The City and Hackney Public Health team has published the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Needs Assessment. The report looks at the mental health of children and young people in the City of London and Hackney. It shows that more children are struggling with their mental health, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Referrals to services have gone up by 70%, and older teenagers are most affected.
News

Wick Surgery Enter and View report

Healthwatch Hackney visited The Wick Surgery in February 2025 to evaluate patient experience, focusing on appointment booking, patient–staff interactions, the surgery’s approach to supporting vulnerable patients, and how it engages with patient feedback, compliments and complaints. This report presents the findings and recommendations for improvement.
Report

Well Street surgery

In October 2024, Healthwatch Hackney visited Well Street Surgery to evaluate patient experience, focusing on ease of booking appointments, the relationship between staff and patients, and support for vulnerable patients. We also explored how the practice responds to and engages with patients’ compliments, feedback and complaints. Our findings draw not only on insights gathered during the visit but also on 15 months of patient feedback, providing a comprehensive evidence base. This report presents our findings and recommendations for improvement.
Report

Riverside Practice Enter and View Report

Healthwatch Hackney visited Trowbridge Surgery in October 2024 in response to concerns raised by a Public Representative about patient experience at this surgery. The visit focused on four key areas: accessibility, the quality of interaction between patients and reception staff, support for vulnerable patients, and patient feedback. This report presents the findings and recommendations for improvement.
Report

Trowbridge Surgery

Healthwatch Hackney visited Trowbridge Surgery in October 2024 in response to concerns raised by a Public Representative about patient experience at this surgery. The visit focused on four key areas: accessibility, the quality of interaction between patients and reception staff, support for vulnerable patients, and patient feedback. This report presents the findings and recommendations for improvement.
Report

Enter and View at East London Foundation Trust Mental Health Wards: Overview Report

Between October 2023 and July 2024, Healthwatch Hackney conducted nine Enter and View visits across seven East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) Mental Health Wards to evaluate the quality of mental health care, focusing on patient experience, staff feedback and overall ward conditions. This report presents the findings and recommendations for improvement across all wards.
Report

Enter and View at East London Foundation Trust Mental Health Wards: Gardner Ward

Healthwatch Hackney visited Gardner ward in October 2023 to evaluate the quality of mental health care, focusing on patient experience, staff feedback and overall ward conditions. This report presents the findings and recommendations for improvement.
In October 2023, Healthwatch Hackney visited Gardner Ward to assess the quality of mental health care, focusing on patient experiences, staff feedback, and overall ward conditions. Interviews were conducted with 11 patients (60% of those on the ward) and 3 staff members.

Key findings highlighted concerns around safety, with some patients feeling intimidated by disruptive behaviors and theft. While most patients found the staff helpful and approachable, understaffing was noted as an issue affecting care quality and access to activities. Cultural and religious needs were generally met, but opinions on food quality and activity offerings varied. Recommendations included improving safety through secure storage, addressing staffing shortages, enhancing communication on care plans, and reviewing discharge procedures.

Healthwatch Hackney is positively engaged with the providers around the findings and recommendations in the reports. We will re-publish later in the year to include reflections and responses from East London Foundation Trust (ELFT). This approach has been taken to allow ELFT time to meaningfully consider the recommendations and properly assess what actions they may take in response to them.
Healthwatch Hackney will monitor progress on these issues through future visits and feedback.
Report

Enter and View at East London Foundation Trust: Joshua Ward

Healthwatch Hackney visited Conolly ward in January and May 2024 to evaluate the quality of mental health care, focusing on patient experience, staff feedback and overall ward conditions. This report presents the findings and recommendations for improvement.
Report