Model turned chef Isaac Carew visits Mind in the City’s N’yam and Go cookery group

Last month, model, chef and Mind supporter Isaac Carew visited Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest. He spent a morning meeting local residents and taking part in a cookery club, called N’yam and Go (Eat and Go). N’yam and Go provides an opportunity for its clients to connect with others in the community while helping to build skills, self-confidence and creativity through cooking.

Taking inspiration from Hackney’s Caribbean roots, Isaac, who grew up in the area, cooked jerk chicken burgers with the group, taken from his debut cookbook The Dirty Dishes, before sitting down to eat and having an open conversation about mental health.

After sadly losing two people close to him through mental health problems, Isaac started supporting Mind when he took on the gruelling 100 mile cycle challenge, Ride London, to fundraise last year for the charity. Through sharing his visit to N’yam and Go, Isaac is determined to help raise awareness of mental health problems and highlight the diverse range of support that is available through Mind’s Network of 130 local Minds.

Isaac Carew said:

“I’ve always been passionate about the power food has in bringing people together. It was amazing to be back in Hackney and to meet such incredible people who have found support for their mental health through groups like N’yam and Go.

“Having had people very close to me experience mental health problems, I want anyone out there who’s going through difficulties with their mental health to know that they’re not alone, and that there are support options available that can genuinely help.”

Krishna Maharaj, CEO of City and Hackney Mind said:

“In any given year, mental health problems will affect one in four people; that could be one person in every family. Good mental health support shouldn’t have a one-size-fits-all approach, so it was fantastic to welcome Isaac to Mind in the City to help shine a light on the breadth of support available from local Minds for those in our communities who really need it.”

To find out more about the different services available in your local area, visit mind.org.uk/information-support/local-minds/

The Dirty Dishes: 100 fast and delicious recipes is published by Bluebird.