Raising Dough CIC

Raising Dough CIC is a Sunderland-based social enterprise using food to create opportunities for people who face barriers to work. We reinvest all profits into volunteering, training, and employment pathways for neurodivergent individuals, those experiencing mental health challenges, and others who need a more supportive route into the workplace.

Our work centres around Peggy, our mobile pizza project, bringing freshly made food to markets, events, and community spaces across the North East. Through this, we create safe, hands-on environments where people can build confidence, learn practical skills, and feel part of a team.

PizzApprentice Programme

Our PizzApprentice programme offers inclusive, real-world training in pizza making, food preparation, and teamwork. Designed for people who may not thrive in traditional education, it supports participants to develop skills, routines, and confidence, with pathways into further training, volunteering, or employment.

Our Community Kitchen

We are proud to have been twice awarded a 5-star Food Hygiene Rating when we were based at the Coop Centre (Hendon), have an enhanced DBS, and Level 2 & 3 Food Safety certifications, ensuring a safe and professional environment for everyone involved.

Raising Dough is now based at Weights and Cakes CIC in Southwick, where we’re expanding our work through:

• Inclusive food workshops
• Alternative education provision
• A permanent home for our fully funded PizzApprentice programme

Working alongside an incredible local community, we continue to grow a project rooted in inclusion, sustainability, and good food.