Refugee Community Kitchen

Who we are

“We are volunteers. We chop. We stir. We serve. We believe food is a human right. Everyone deserves food that we’d be happy to eat at our own tables.”

Vision: The Refugee Community Kitchen envisions a world without borders, where all individuals, regardless of their origins or circumstances, have access to nourishing meals and experience a sense of dignity and community.

Mission: RCK's mission is to address the immediate food needs of people experiencing food poverty and exclusion, including refugees and the ever increasing amount of people experiencing food poverty. We are committed to offering a fresh, nutritionally balanced, culturally inclusive and familiar regular menu service in a compassionate and respectful manner, acknowledging the inherent dignity of every person.

Objectives:

Immediate Relief: To provide immediate relief by preparing and distributing nutritious food to those facing food insecurity, homelessness, and displacement.

Community Building: To foster a welcoming community and solidarity among displaced individuals and volunteers, recognizing the importance of human connection in times of crisis.

Increase Engagement: To raise awareness about the challenges faced by displaced populations, shine a light on and promote a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding forced migration and the ever increasing gross inequality perpetuated by a broken system and war.

Utilise Surplus Food: To advocate for and actively contribute to reducing food waste by efficiently using surplus food resources.

Inclusivity: To embrace diversity and inclusivity within the organisation, welcoming volunteers and service users from all backgrounds and creating a supportive environment for individuals facing various challenges.

The Refugee Community Kitchen (RCK) is an award winning volunteer-driven initiative that emerged in response to the European refugee crisis in 2015. 

“Doing nothing was no longer an option.”

— Steve Bedlam, RCK co-founder

Initially based in Calais, the organisation focuses on providing a regular menu of nutritious fresh food to displaced individuals, including refugees and asylum seekers.

The operation was and continues to be an effective response to the crisis. 8 years later, we are currently providing 2,000 meals per day.

“We thought if we can do this a hundred miles away we can do this in our hometown” 

— Paula Gallardo - RCK co-founder 

In 2016, we extended our service to London and currently have three kitchens and seven outreach points across the capital. Our meals are made fresh, on the day using whole foods, much of which would otherwise go to waste. 

The main objectives of RCK include:

• alleviating hunger and malnutrition among displaced populations
• offering a warm and welcoming space for communal meals
• addressing the immediate needs of those living in challenging conditions 
• reduce food waste 

RCK operates on a grassroots level, relying on the dedication of volunteers to prepare and distribute meals to individuals in need, fostering a sense of solidarity and support within the community.