Run by Dungog Nourish, the Kitchen club was started by group facilitator and family worker Karyn Marsh who saw the amount of adults who didn't know how to cook and the damage it does to their bottom line.

"Kitchen club originally started as a Dungog Community Kitchen many moons ago. It was a place for people to come and learn to cook on a budget," Ms Marsh said.

However now the new Dungog Kitchen Club is more about social participation after COVID lockdowns, according to Ms Marsh.

Despite this, Ms Marsh still hopes to teach those who weren't given the same opportunities as her the skills to cook in a way that will help them save money.

"Not everyone gets raised with cooking. some people just don't get given the skills to cook," She said.

"For me it's about giving someone the social opportunities to connect with others over the love of food and give them an environment where they don't need to disclose that, they can just come along."

Cooking has always been a passion of Ms Marsh's, combined with her work as a family worker the Kitchen Club seemed like a natural fit.

"I did hospitality through high school and I've worked in restaurants and cafes up until three years ago," She said.

"I love cooking. I think it's awesome."

Due to the nature of the Dungog Cooking Club and its tight funding, the club had to close down during COVID.

However, now that restrictions are more relaxed Ms Marsh is excited to get back in the community kitchen.

"COVID stopped all my groups from happening. Food-safe handling during COVID was very difficult, it couldn't be done," She said.

"It's great to have it back and in the Church hall. They're excited to have us."

The food that the group cooks varies but always follows the theme of cooking on a budget, according to Ms Marsh.

"It could be seasonal, it can be nourishing for the soul, it can be nourishing for the body," she said.

"Some weeks it will be healthy, some weeks it will be just about nourishing the soul. It could be a nice good chocolate cake or something delicious that's not so healthy."

As well as the new Dungog Kitchen Club, Ms Marsh also runs a similar program in Clarence Town called Nourish Dungog Kitchen and Supportive Playgroup.

However, Dungog Kitchen Club will focus on the social opportunities rather than playgroups, Ms Marsh said.

Ms Marsh also hopes to start a new parent group as well.

"The Dungog Kitchen Club is based around cooking," She said.

"If kids want to come they can, there will be some things they can play with but it's not a playgroup. Whereas my one at Clarence Town is a supported playgroup."

The first meeting of the Dungog Nourish Kitchen Club was held on Monday, August 8. About 20 people attended which worked perfectly, according to Ms Marsh.

"Everybody was active in the kitchen and took a role in cooking and serving," she said.

Feedback Ms Marsh has received was mostly positive, with her posts on Facebook getting shared throughout the community.

"It's gotten a bit busy on Facebook, people are sharing, commenting and tagging people in it," she said.

The Dungog Nourish Kitchen Club will meet again on Monday, August 15 and 29, as well as Monday, September 12. It will kick off at 10.30am and go for two hours.

The Kitchen Club is held at the Uniting Church Hall or 246 Dowling Street.