Last month RCK and our group of incredible volunteers served over 2,400 meals across our six sites in London
This month we’re excited to announce that we’re opening a 7th site so that we can extend our services further
Please see the link in our bio to see how you can get involved through donations or volunteering with us - or simply share this post to help us spread awareness and help others
A heartfelt shout-out of gratitude to all the volunteers supporting us throughout London! At RCK, we couldn't accomplish our mission without the incredible dedication and support of our amazing volunteers throughout London.
Volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels selflessly dedicate their evenings and weekends to support our cause. Every day, these remarkable individuals selflessly give their time and energy to ensure that those seeking refuge receive warm meals and a sense of community. Their commitment and compassion are truly inspiring.
From chopping vegetables to cooking delicious meals, distributing food, and providing a listening ear, our volunteers play a vital role in making a difference in the lives of displaced individuals. Their kindness and generosity nourish both body and soul.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to all the dedicated volunteers who lend their time and talents. Your unwavering support is the driving force behind our work, and we are honored to have you by our side. Thank you for being the heart and soul of Refugee Community Kitchen!
If you're interested in joining our incredible volunteer team, contributing by donation or simply learning more about our work, please visit our volunteer pages or follow us on Instagram @refugeecommunitykitchen to get in touch.
Amazing Annie is a returning long term volunteer. Always a smile, nothing too much trouble., Reliable, welcoming and a great sense of humour. We love her
We are so happy Returning volunteers mean so much to us and the project . They come with renewed energy and experience. This also shows the importance of the project to our volunteers and their belief in RCK.
Each day we go out on several food distributions in Calais and Dunkirk. This requires extensive preparation and coordination across the whole kitchen team.
The distribution leads for the day inform the mains and carbs chef how many meals they are expecting to distribute in each site (the numbers are based on previous distributions and other factors such as weather and if other organisations will be in the area the time).
The prep lead is responsible for ensuring that the correct quantity of vegetables is prepped for mains. This means the kitchen works non-stop to get the food out on time while trying to produce as many additional sides/extras for the condiments table as possible.
During the morning the distribution leads will brief the distribution teams. These briefings focus on 3 points, the practicalities of how RCK runs a distribution, volunteer security and safety and finally field etiquette (how RCK behaves while on distribution).
The final job before leaving for distribution is to pack the vans. We pack the vans with; a hygiene create, tables, bins, spices, water/tea/coffee, plates, cups, spoons etc.
The team then drives to distribution sites and distributes the fresh food produced in the kitchen that day. Once finished the team head back to the kitchen, clean down the vans, tables, cool down any remaining food (to ensure it is a safe temperate before going into the fridge). For the distribution teams the day finishes with a debriefing which looks at practical/logistical areas to improve, any emotional responses/thoughts from the distribution that people may want to share and finally signposting to some resources that RCK has to help with volunteer welfare.
Great to see co-founder Sam's delicious recipe for Punjabi Lobia included in Observer Food Monthly's 20 Best Curries! It's a pleasure to see a Refugee Community Kitchen staple alongside recipes by chefs like Andi Oliver, Meera Sodha and Madhur Jaffrey.
"At Refugee Community Kitchen we make many variations of this curry, which is incredibly popular with all the communities we serve, as well as providing much-needed protein and energy" - Sam
You can find the full recipe here
We are still serving in Calais but we are in desperate need of volunteers! We have a wonderful team who are working incredibly hard, but they need support as Winter sets in. We would love to see some familiar faces return to the stoves but newcomers are more welcome than ever! You don't need kitchen experience, just a willingness to work hard and get stuck in. We can teach you everything you need to know, from prep to cooking to serving.
If you're interested and can stay for 2 weeks or more, please get in touch here: volunteering@refugeecommunitykitchen.org
"I learned so much in my time with RCK and was constantly surrounded by a wonderful supportive team! In what is a dire situation, there is so much love, solidarity and humanity to be found." - Izzy
A huge thank you Izzy for her calming, steady, funny, bright and lovely energy in Calais over the last year. We wish you all the best on your new adventures and a well-earned rest along the way! A big thanks for bringing all your friends and family we love them too
