When Ralia Daoud arrived in Bradford, she hoped she might one day return to the work she loved: community cooking. She had worked in professional kitchens in France, but after moving to the UK with her children, she discovered her French qualifications wouldn’t transfer.
Speaking only a few words of English, she spent her first years at home caring for her children and wondering how she could return to work “Before, I don’t know how you speak English – I don’t understand, just hello and goodbye,” she says.
Ralia’s turning point came when she discovered Bradford College’s South Asian Cookery course, delivered at her local community hub, the Millside Centre. The timing of the classes worked perfectly around school pick‑ups, and the familiar, welcoming setting made it easier for her to regain her confidence.
A community space to rebuild skills and confidence
Every Wednesday from 12–2pm, Ralia joined a lively kitchen group led by course tutor Nabeela.
“We cooked every Wednesday,” she says. “We finish at two o’clock and I can go collect my children. It was good for me.”
Although the course was titled South Asian Cookery, the sessions gave learners the chance to explore a range of flavours and techniques from around the world, as well as helping to run the cafe, with catering and hospitality skills. As someone with a passion for food, Ralia thrived:
“I like making different food each day. I can cook French food, African food and now Indian food, I can cook all this.”
Alongside the cookery sessions, Bradford College also delivered a Food Safety and Kitchen Hygiene qualification at the centre, exactly what Ralia needed to re‑enter a professional kitchen in the UK.
Confidence and Skills
The confidence and skills she built there soon opened a door she hadn’t expected. Course leader Nabeela told her about a job opportunity in the Culture Café at Bradford College, and Ralia decided to apply.
A short time later, she was offered the job.
“Now I have a job and it’s good for me,” she says with a smile. “I’m so happy for that.”
Ralia now works three days a week, preparing dishes for staff and students, and continuing to grow in her role:
“My chef asks me, ‘Can you do this?’ I can do it. Everything I can do.”
Finding independence through learning close to home
For Ralia, the biggest impact has been the independence the course gave her at a time she needed it most.
“Before, I miss money for me and my kids, it’s too hard for life and I don’t have family here – just only me and my kids. And now I hope for my life, because I can have money for me and my kids.”
She continues to work hard on improving her English, taking community ESOL classes at Lower Grange Community Centre, and this combined with the cookery and food hygiene courses, has given her a route back into employment and the opportunity to use the skills she already had.
Talking about her course teacher Nabeela, Ralia said, “It’s my teacher – she found me in the community. She’s very good person.”
Looking ahead
Ralia’s dream for the future is to keep progressing and, one day, open her own restaurant.
“hopefully I can speak English properly and have the possibility to open restaurant for me.”
When asked what she would say to someone thinking about joining a community‑based course, her answer is simple:
“Honestly, it was good for me because I now know so many. And now good things – my chef found me and now this new job!”
Course leader Nabeela Khan says:
“Ralia’s journey through the courses at Millside Centre and Lower Grange Community Centre transformed her dreams into reality.
With all the skills she learnt at these centres from running a cafe, recipes from around the world, catering and hospitality, she also enhanced her English-speaking abilities and this confidence propelled her to apply for, and secure her dream job at Bradford College.”
Her journey is a testament to what can happen when learning opportunities are placed directly within communities that are accessible, welcoming, and designed around real-life needs.
Click here to find out more about the community-based courses we currently offer.