The fragrant smell of Indian spices emanate from the warmly lit kitchen, as sounds of joyful laughter and endless chatter can be heard from the busy chefs behind the counter.

It is 10am on a Wednesday morning and Naheed and Shazia, are busy preparing a plethora of ‘home-cooked’ foods inspired by their South Asian heritage.

The popular kitchen-cafe is run by Roshni, a Sheffield-based Asian Women’s Resource Centre on Queens Road, in Nether Edge. Locals frequently pop in for an affordable traditional hot meal at the centre which has now been open for 10 months.

Fouzia Ali, the Women’s Empowerment Project Co-ordinator for Roshni, who has worked with the charity for 14 years, is enthusiastic and passionate about the work the centre carries out.

“There are so many women who are brilliant cooks,” she says. “We wanted to provide training opportunities to the women so that they can use their cooking skills to find employment or start their own business. In addition, our cafe is our way of connecting with the local community.

“Roshni runs a number of support services, including lots of short courses in English and other skills to build independence in women. A side benefit of the courses is that women get social opportunities to build connections. We see the cafe as an extension of this connection building.”

The charity’s name, Roshni, means ‘light’ in Urdu, was set up in 1992 by a group of passionate women who wanted to provide services and support to empower women.

The centre aims to help women from disadvantaged backgrounds who are often cut off from external support due to their culture and language barriers.

Fouzia explained a lot of the women who come to Roshni are from immigrant backgrounds and have struggled because they lack the skills and confidence to integrate in the society here.

“They weren’t raised to live independent lives,” she says. “It was very much the belief that you should look after your children, husband and house.”

The kitchen, which opened in April 2024, was set up to provide women training and work experiences. There are a mixture of volunteers and paid staff who have completed a hospitality course in partnership with Free2Learn and UMIX.

Shazia moved to the UK from Pakistan, several years ago, and through Roshni became fluent in English, which gave her the confidence to apply for jobs. After a recent career break, Shazia joined the Roshni kitchen as an assistant cook.

“Roshni helps women who come to the UK from Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. The staff are bi-lingual, which is very helpful for women.”

Last month, the cafe, a social enterprise, extended their opening hours from three days a week to six which will mean more opportunities for volunteers to build their skills. As well as learning new skills, there is an opportunity to meet women from similar backgrounds.

“We have a great time working in the kitchen,” says Shazia. “I enjoy socialising with my colleagues. I have worked with vulnerable women in the past and being part of Roshni’s work allows me to put my experience to good use.”

Roshni Kitchen’s volunteers are recruited from the charity’s service users, helping them gain practical experience.

Fouzia, is also an Ayurveda practitioner who specialises in a holistic system of medicine and lifestyle which originated in India.

“One of my ambitions is to use my skills to help both the Asian and the general community by helping them think about their health through what they eat,” she says.

The Thali dishes are inspired by the Ayurvedic system, and have a variety of components to provide a balanced diet. This includes rice, dhal, vegetables, some achar (pickle) and chutney.

The cafe serves 30 freshly cooked meals, free of charge, every week to their clients who are struggling with the rising cost of living crisis and also runs healthy living courses, including a diabetes programme which aims to inform women about healthier dietary choices.

The charity is planning to run a series of short courses, focussing on gut health and managing general health through a better diet. They are also aiming to offer courses in Ayurvedic cooking and alternative holistic remedies.