Before most of the site has even started the day, the kitchen at Fairthorne Manor is already hard at work.
At 7am sharp, the ovens are on, deliveries are arriving, and preparations begin for hundreds of meals that will soon be making their way to YMCA nurseries and across the site.
Leading this operation is Head Chef Lillian, whose role sits at the heart of one of the busiest and most essential services within the organisation.
Designing menus, managing the kitchen team, ensuring allergen compliance and preparing food at scale – it’s a role that combines planning, leadership and hands-on cooking every single day.
And the scale of the work might surprise many.
Each week the kitchen prepares around 1,200 nursery lunches for children attending Fairthorne Manor, Stoneham, Woolston and Little Whale nurseries. Alongside this, the team also cooks for staff and visiting groups on site – meaning that during busy periods the kitchen can produce up to 600 meals in a single day.
Cooking with Care
Every meal begins with one priority: supporting children’s wellbeing.
Menus are built around Early Years Foundation Stage nutrition guidance, ensuring that meals are balanced, nutritious and suitable for growing children who are spending their days learning, playing and exploring.
Fresh ingredients arrive daily so meals can be prepared from scratch – something the team takes real pride in.
Of course, even the most carefully planned menu has its clear favourites.
“Pasta, meatballs and curry are always popular,” Lillian says with a smile.
Safety Comes First
When catering for young children, attention to detail matters.
Dietary requirements and allergies are carefully managed through a system that includes multiple checks before meals ever leave the kitchen.
Nurseries provide weekly updates on dietary needs, which are reviewed and translated into clearly labelled meal preparations. Special meals are marked with stickers and cross-referenced before being sent out, ensuring every child receives the correct meal safely.
It’s a process built on consistency, care and responsibility.
A Small Team, Big Responsibility
Behind the scenes, the kitchen has been running with a very small team.
For much of the past year, it has been Lillian working alongside trainee chef Hannah, supported by the wider kitchen team and catering administrator Sophie, who ensures the chefs have the detailed information needed to prepare meals for every child across the nurseries.
Recently, a new chef has joined the team – a welcome addition to a kitchen that has been carrying a significant workload.
“It’s been challenging at times,” Lillian explains. “But we’re looking forward to having more support and continuing to improve what we deliver.”
Fuel for the Day Ahead
For children in our nurseries, mealtimes are more than just part of the routine.
They’re moments to sit together, refuel and prepare for the busy hours of learning and play ahead. Nutritious, hearty meals give children the energy they need to focus, grow and enjoy their day.
Feedback from nursery teams and parents also helps shape menus when they are refreshed throughout the year, allowing the kitchen to keep adapting and improving what they serve.
The Impact Across Our Community
The work of the kitchen doesn’t always sit in the spotlight. But every day, its impact is felt across the organisation.
Hundreds of children are eating nutritious meals prepared with care.
Nursery teams can rely on food arriving on time each morning.
Families know their children are being supported throughout the day.
Staff and visiting groups are catered for during busy programmes.
It’s a huge responsibility carried by a small team who show up early, plan carefully and work hard behind the scenes to make it happen. And every morning at 7am, it begins again.
A Quiet but Powerful Part of Our Mission
When we talk about giving children the best possible start in life, moments like these matter.
A healthy meal.
A full plate.
The energy to learn, play and grow.
That impact might begin quietly in the Fairthorne kitchen – but it reaches every nursery table we serve. And that’s something worth recognising.
Because sometimes the most important work in our community starts long before the rest of us arrive.
