Refugee Community Kitchen works with local communities in the UK, using surplus fresh fruit and vegetables to serve nutritious meals to people irrespective of their situation and needs.

We believe that people in food poverty have the right to receive healthy food that tastes great. So we cook everything from scratch and we strive to provide meals so fresh that it’s just an hour from pot to fork. Having access to good nutrition not only increases people’s resilience but also the general outcome of their future by improving their physical and mental health

Volunteering in London

Volunteering is a great way to contribute and connect with your local community. If you are interested in joining our amazing volunteer team you can register here.

When you register to volunteer you will receive an email inviting you to an induction at our kitchen and further information on our locations, what to wear and what to bring

Take a little glimpse in to volunteering at our Gospel Oak kitchen…

A typical volunteering day would look something like this…

9.30am Arrival and induction

10.30pm Decide on the menu from available ingredients and get stuck in prepping. Great support and guidance will be at hand from the experienced lead of the day.

12pm Prepare the lunchtime services.

1pm Delicious, nutritious lunch for all.

2pm Time to get back to work! The cooking begins again.

4-6pm Prepare for the evening service and clean down ready to begin again tomorrow.

6.30pm For the kitchen team it’s time to go home but for the service team, who arrive at 5.30pm, it’s time for evening service which usually finishes around 9.30pm.

On Saturday volunteering runs from 9am to 3pm as there is no evening service and our Brixton and Hackney teams work on Sundays from 2-9pm.

London kitchen’s & streetside service locations

Our UK street-side services started in 2016 in response to the growing number of people in food poverty in our local area. We are very proud to say that we are now providing food weekly in 8 different locations in London. We are supported by Camden Council with a kitchen and work space in Gospel Oak where we cook 5 days a week and distribute in Gospel Oak, Camden Town, Archway, Goodge Street, Finchley Road & Old Street. We also cook and serve in Brixton & Bethnal Green cooking from local kitchens. For more information on our service times, please email us.

Other collaborations & services from our kitchen

Living Rooms

For the last few years we have collaborated with Cooperation Town providing food for warm room initiatives - these programs are providing essential support for local people experiencing hardship due to austerity measures - difficulty paying energy bills to heat their homes, buying food and experiencing loneliness. By providing food we are encouraging the community to gather, support each other over a plate of warm healthy food.

Springboard Youth Academy

Springboard Youth Academy support refugees and unaccompanied minors with education and activities to increase their community connections and prospects for inclusion and future employment. Since 2022 we have supported their work with hot, nutritious lunches of culturally familiar food for their Refugee Unaccompanied Minors School Holiday programs.

Educational Days

We hold educational days at our Gospel Oak kitchen headquarters. UCL year 1 Medicine students (as part of their Lifestyle Medicine module) and students from the University of Idaho have joined us for lectures and seminars on a range of subjects from food poverty, importance of nutrition, referrals for mental health to recognising and supporting loneliness.

Surplus Food Support

The bulk of our food is provided by the Felix Project and City Harvest who have taken on the mammoth task of collecting surplus food from supermarkets all over London and delivering it to groups like ours who can get it to the people who need it most. We also have local restaurants and food companies who bring along extras and special treats for us to share.

Our impact

Read about the impact our work has had on peoples lives whilst saving food waste and on Carbon emissions in 2024

Company Volunteering

If you and your colleagues at work are looking for a team building day with a difference, you’ve found it! Come and develop your professional relationships and skills, whilst supporting a valuable community resource. All days include preparation and cooking, so you get to learn new skills and experience cooking in a professional kitchen! RCK regularly hosts corporate, non-profit and government volunteers, who do invaluable work for us and the vulnerable people we support.