LESS than a month after realising her life-long dream of opening a small cookery school in the Dales, Elizabeth Fawcett, like so many small businesses, has had to close her doors for the foreseeable future.

But with her positive outlook and refusal to be beaten she is exploiting a new and unexpected talent.

She said: “At the end of February this year, I realised a long-held dream and started a cookery school in Hawes, North Yorkshire, investing in a bespoke purpose-built kitchen facility of which I was immensely proud.

“Sadly, just three weeks later, I was unable to trade because of the coronavirus. The set-up was a major investment for me. I used all my savings and took out two loans, confident I could succeed in this exciting new venture.

“Being a new business, I was was waiting for Richmondshire District Council to come to assess my rates. I realise that I am unlikely to qualify for any of the grants announced to date.

“I started a home-cooked ready meal service delivered to the door in the locality which I am still doing, but I also decided to to devise some “Let’s Cook Together” online cookery classes. These are particularly aimed at keeping the children amused while school is closed."

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