A SINGLE mother is holding healthy African cooking sessions across the county to raise money for women who have suffered from abusive relationships and mental health problems.

Ruth Mojisola Obasa, from Witney, was inspired to set up her charity Jewins Women 2 Women UK after experiencing what life was like in a refuge four years ago.

She moved to England from Nigeria 21 years ago.

The 45-year-old, who has a 12-year-old daughter Tammy and a 14-year-old son Ayo, said: “I used to be in a refuge a few years ago, for women and children fleeing from domestic violence. It took away my opportunity to finish studying. I was a victim of domestic abuse myself.

“The women in the Banbury refuge inspired me to want to do something different in Oxfordshire. They were relying on their benefits and their issues were not being solved. I wanted to change that.”

Now Ms Obasa is working hard to raise awareness of her charity and is launching the cooking sessions as a fun way of bringing people together.

All the profits from the classes will be going towards her charitable organisation, which she set up in July 2014.

Ms Obasa, who has worked as a higher education teacher in the past, added: “Jewins Women 2 Women is a company for women, by women. The objective is to empower them, especially those suffering from disadvantages .

“At the classes we will be looking at different parts of Africa and cooking jollof rice and chicken with plantain, fried rice with chicken and plantain, beef stew, and grilled fish.

“It’s all about teaching people where they can buy the ingredients and how they can cook healthy food.”

The first African cookery class is on Wednesday, September 9, at Madley Park Hall in Witney from 7pm to 9pm, followed by one on September 29 at St Andrew’s Church in Linton Road, North Oxford from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

Everyone is welcome, adults and children ages eight and above.

Tickets cost £30 a session for adults and £15 for students, children and those without a job .

Call 07950 775993 or email moji@jewinswomen2women.co.uk for details.