Volunteer for RCK this Summer!

RCK are currently operating at four different locations across Calais and Dunkirk and are proud to have a dedicated team of volunteers who serve five days a week.

We're always seeking more volunteers to join our incredible team.

With greater support, we can expand our services and reach even more refugees by extending our operations to six or even seven days a week. Our goal is to serve as many living sites as possible, ensuring that we not only offer meals but also provide essential amenities like tea and filtered water. As the summer approaches and temperatures rise, these provisions become even more essential.

Please consider joining our amazing team and volunteering with us this summer!

A Day in the Life of 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.

And then we were 6!

We are in no mood to celebrate but over 3 million meals later, today is our 6TH BIRTHDAY.

We didn't expect to still be here. We were so hopeful.

A lot has happened in six years, but sadly very little has changed for the better. Displaced people in Calais still lack the support they deserve, and we, with your amazing support, are still here serving hot meals full of love and kindness.

Thank you for your support! If you want to do more write to your MP, sign the petition in our Instagram bio, share and donate ->

Sam Jones' Punjabi Lobia in the Observer's 20 best curries

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 need Volunteers!

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

HUMANS OF RCK: Izzy

"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

HUMANS OF RCK: Quentin

Quentin works tirelessly in the bowels of RCK sorting out the most intricate of our marketing and social media problems. He is endlessly generous with his time, money and positivity, even finding time to drop off beer and chocolate at the gates of the warehouse when he passes by. He manages all of this alongside being an amazing dad, husband & beautiful human. We have so much gratitude - Love from all the RCK fam!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY RCK!!

Year Five: "Our hardest year yet - but we're ending it on exciting news!"

From stepping into the Calais warehouse five years ago to serving close to three MILLION meals is an amazing birthday gift.

"2020 has been the hardest year yet for Refugee Community Kitchen - but there are always moments of hope. COVID-19 has altered every aspect of our service, impacted the communities we serve and is showing no signs of abating. We have continued to serve and are preparing for a long and cold winter. This makes the support we've received this year even more invaluable - from the incredible Migrate masks and Scorched Earth Project to the brownies, bracelets and brilliant t-shirts you've created and sold for us. We're ending the year on some exciting news - a new kitchen in Kentish Town and a new partnership with Soulful Food Co and hoping that 2021 brings better times and the hope that at some point we'll no longer be needed here. - Paula Gallardo