11th November 2026
Sanctuary Supported Living
Stephanie Plant-Stokes is presented with her £1,000 winner’s cheque
A retirement community chef from Derby has been crowned the winner of a MasterChef competition run by not-for-profit provider Sanctuary Supported Living.
Stephanie Plant-Stokes, Chef Manager at Greenwich Gardens, won a £1,000 cash prize after putting her culinary skills to the test earlier this year, competing against other chefs from across the country. Stephanie impressed the judges with a near-perfect score of 147 out of 150.
For her main course, she served chicken stuffed with asparagus and cheese, wrapped in prosciutto, with a wholegrain mustard sauce, sweet potato mash and seasonal vegetables. Dessert was a raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake bomb with homemade lemon curd.
Each chef had just 90 minutes to create a two-course menu as part of the competition, delivered in partnership with food supplier Brakes at its Innovation Kitchen in Reading. Their dishes were then put before a judging panel, which included Brakes’ Sector Development Chef, Danny Silcock, Director for Sanctuary Supported Living Dave Shaw, and Chief Operating Officer for Sanctuary’s Commercial business, Sarah Clarke-Kuehn.
"I loved having the chance to push myself and show what I could do"
The dishes were judged on taste, presentation, budget-conscious cooking and culinary technique, reflecting the balance catering teams achieve every day when creating nutritious, enjoyable meals for residents.
Stephanie said: “I definitely wondered what I’d signed myself up for! It was completely different to being in my own kitchen at Greenwich Gardens, and the nerves really kicked in when the clock started.
“But I loved having the chance to push myself and show what I could do. I learnt a lot about what I’m capable of and winning was the perfect way to round off such a brilliant experience.”
Sanctuary Supported Living runs retirement communities across the country, with catering teams playing an important role in making mealtimes something residents can enjoy and look forward to. The MasterChef-style competition was created to celebrate their skills while giving colleagues an opportunity to develop professionally and share best practice.
Will Childe, Head of Hospitality at Sanctuary Supported Living, said: “Our chefs do a fantastic job every day, but they don’t always get the opportunity to put themselves centre stage. That’s what made this competition so valuable.
“It gave our chefs the chance to be creative, test their skills and learn from each other, while celebrating the talent we have across Sanctuary Supported Living. Stephanie was a brilliant winner and she should be incredibly proud of what she achieved.”
The competition forms part of Sanctuary Supported Living’s wider commitment to investing in colleagues and raising standards across its services.
Designed for people aged 55 and over, Greenwich Gardens provides a comfortable and independent living environment, with its restaurant at the heart of the vibrant retirement community in Derby. Open to residents and visitors seven days a week, it serves breakfast and lunch alongside light bites, snacks and delicious daily specials.
As well as retirement communities, Sanctuary Supported Living also provides accommodation with personalised support for people with learning or physical disabilities, mental health needs, and homeless young people and adults.
To find out more about Sanctuary Supported Living’s services, see the latest news or find a service near you.
