Bay Tree Academy CIC

Michelle O’Dwyer, founder of Bay Tree Cookery Academy CIC - Paying it forward in business

Empowering Liverpool’s communities through culinary education.

Michelle teaches essential cooking, budgeting, and nutrition skills to vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities, veterans with PTSD, addiction recovery domestic violence survivors, people on low incomes and many more .

Beyond the kitchen, Michelle fosters community spirit by organising events like the annual Free Community Christmas Day Dinner, bringing together diverse groups to combat loneliness and social isolation.

In 2024 the Christmas day dinner had 270 guest, plus delivered 40 cooked dinners, each guest received a present and a food hamper to take home.

To raise funds for this she cycled 300 miles across Vietnam in 2024 and in 2025 she will be hiking to Everest Basecamp to raise funds for the 2025 Christmas day dinner.

Michelle is also a trustee of Feeding Liverpool and Alfie’s Squad.