Some would describe home as a specific place they may have felt happiness, it may be a feeling of security when with loved ones or perhaps it’s a beautiful dish that brings back nostalgic memories.
For some refugees and asylum seekers, the feeling of home may be bittersweet. There are some who have fled war and persecution, seeing their homes turned to rubble, or climate change destroy the structures they once lived in.
At Cook Up, we see many people come through our kitchen doors. People from all walks of life who may have found themselves in situations where there is little to no support. Whilst housing remains a key priority, an overlooked need is the food people consume in these difficult periods. When all else is uncertain, cooking a familiar dish can provide comfort, relief and a sense of home.
Cook Up provides a kitchen space to anyone who feels they require one. The service assists those experiencing homelessness to take control of what they eat in a situation they often have little control over. We see a range of people, some who may be street homeless, others who are between homes or sofa surfing as well as those seeking asylum or refugees.
Ingredients, food containers and a place to eat are provided and have been immense practical help for many. Participants are able to choose what they cook and staff buy the ingredients. Cook Up provides autonomy, and where other services work to use up excess ingredients from large supermarkets that may have been destined for waste, the project actively works to ensure participants feel their choice in ingredients matters and the dish they wish to make is possible. Staff work hard to source ingredients that sometimes participants haven’t seen since leaving their country. This is often met with a look of astonishment from participants, followed by appreciation.
I love coming to Cook Up. There's always such a positive busy atmosphere. It's a chance for everyone to become absorbed in creating good food and maybe to forget everyday cares for a while. I'm learning new dishes from different cultures, and I've even started baking again! Cook Up has an important purpose in allowing people in difficult circumstances access to healthy food and to the food of their culture. But to me it's just a pleasure to be there and to be part of it.
It is hard to miss the current hostilities asylum seekers and refugees face with the rise of far-right nationalism in the UK. With an impending General Election, refugees and asylum seekers have become the very overused ball in this game of politics. With the threat of being sent to Rwanda on top of current hostile conditions, asylum seekers find themselves stuck, not wanting to rely on financial support but forced to do so without the right to work.
Many of those who come cook on behalf of their families and children. Staff and volunteers uphold a cheerful and welcoming atmosphere with the sharing of food, laughter and music. Whilst in the kitchen, conversation isn’t facilitated by staff, yet we have seen a community form organically over the sharing of ingredients and cooking tips or the conversations around cultures and the customs around food. We’ve seen participants help one another through their shared struggles in seeking asylum from accommodation, to help for school uniforms for their children. The community they form is truly theirs and we’re honoured to be a part of it.
We were very lucky to know the Cook Up team. The best thing that has happened to us since we came to the UK is the new friends we made in the kitchen and my children made friends with other children there too. It was my daughter’s birthday 8th birthday last week she invited her friend from Cook Up who came to her birthday even though they live far away (they travelled 2 hours to get to us). But they came because they are real friends even though we are from such different places. And my daughter was very happy and called it her best birthday. She and her friends still go to the Cook Up sessions when it is school holidays and talk with each other on the phone. And we have become good friends with their families.
For Refugee Week, we held a tea after one of our sessions to celebrate the theme ‘Our Home’. We didn’t need to mention the theme 'Our Home', the hubbub amongst the group displayed exactly what Cook Up provides: A sense of home where all who come experience that feeling of belonging, safety and sanctuary.
Get in touch with Cook Up here