Honouring World Refugee Day: RCK Stands in Solidarity

On this World Refugee Day, RCK stands united with refugees around the globe. For the past eight years, our organisation has been dedicated to providing nourishing meals and support to displaced communities in both Northern France and London. We acknowledge the strength and resilience of those forced to leave their homes, and we are committed to supporting them in their journey.

Through the tireless efforts of our volunteers, we have managed to serve thousands of meals, touching the lives of countless individuals. We understand that food is more than sustenance; it is a symbol of care, dignity, and hope. By providing hot meals, we strive to restore a sense of normalcy and offer a moment of respite amidst the challenges faced by refugees.

Join us on this World Refugee Day as we honour the strength, resilience, and humanity of refugees. Together, we can create a world where every individual is valued, protected, and given the opportunity to thrive.

Celebrate Pride Month with RCK!

At RCK, we believe in celebrating diversity, inclusivity, and love in all its vibrant forms.

Our kitchen is not just a place where hot meals are prepared; it is a haven of love, understanding, and support. We believe in the power of food to nourish both the body and the spirit, and we extend that love to all who seek our services. As we come together to celebrate Pride Month, let us remember that solidarity knows no bounds.

Just as the LGBTQ+ community embraces diversity and unity, we aim to reflect these values in every meal we serve, infusing our meals with a kaleidoscope of vibrant coloured vegetables. From the radiant reds of tomatoes to the brilliant yellows of bell peppers, and the rich purples of eggplants, our kitchen is bursting with a spectrum of flavours and hues.

At RCK, We want everyone to feel safe, valued, and embraced, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. And with the help of our wonderful volunteers and supporters, we can create a world where everyone is celebrated and accepted for who they are.

Join us in spreading the message of love and acceptance, where we can make a difference, one meal at a time. Happy Pride Month!

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!

Global Public Welfare Trust

RCK want to express huge gratitude to the Global Public Welfare Trust for their generous contributions of meat during the Ramadan period. The meat donations helped to provide nutritious meals to refugees who may have otherwise gone without, bringing comfort and a sense of community to those who are far from their homes and loved ones. The kindness and generosity of organisations like the Global Public Welfare Trust are essential in supporting the vital work of the Refugee Community Kitchen, and their on-going contributions are deeply appreciated by all those who benefit from their efforts.

Come and peel some garlic with us!

Over the last couple of weeks our volunteer team in Calais has been growing smaller, however the need for hot food in Calais has not.

We have called out to the RCK community for additional support over the last couple of weeks and the response has been great with lots of emails asking about how volunteering works and people committing to come over.

Consequently, for the first time in a while we are able to operate for 6 days this week. This means an additional hot meal for those who want it in Calais and with temperatures falling and heavy rainfall access to hot food becomes more important.

However, volunteers are set to drop significantly beyond next week unfortunately making the 6 day week unsustainable unless we have more volunteers!

The kitchen could not operate without the tireless of work of volunteers both in person and from afar and so this post is simply about saying thank to you all for your continued support. It is hugely appreciated.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering and coming to Calais then please email volunteering@refugeecommunitykitchen.org or if you would like to make any donation (of any size!!) then please click below.

Come and peel some garlic with us!!

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.

Your volunteer questions answered!

We often get lots of emails and messages with questions about coming out to volunteer in Calais. We have created several small videos answering the most frequently asked questions!

1. Do I need any previous kitchen experience?

Absolutely not, just a willingness to learn how to chop/prepare vegetables.

2. What does the average day in the kitchen look like?

In short lots of fun, work begins at 9 and we have daily briefing followed by lots of food prep, communal lunch at 12:30 and then prep in the afternoon, the final task is to clean down the kitchen. People are able to work at their own pace and according to their own needs.

3. Where can I stay while volunteering in Calais?

When you sign up to volunteer with us we send you a welcome pack email which has several accommodation options from hostels, airbnbs, camping sites and locals who host volunteers. If you have self-funded your accommodation for a month you may also be eligible to move into RCK accommodation.

4. Is there a minimum time period I need to commit for?

No, we are very open to people coming for a couple of days/a week, all help in the kitchen is extremely valued. If you would like to be trained on prep leading, carbs (cooking the big pots of rice) or mains (cooking the big pots of curry) we require a 3/4 week commitment.

5. Should/can I bring any donations?

Yes if you are willing and able to do so its always hugely appreciated (but also not a requirement at all!!). We have a list of suggested donations on our welcome pack we send out. If you are unsure if something is suitable you can always drop us an email.

6. Can I come by myself?

Yes!!!! We have a great community of volunteers and strive to make sure everyone always feels welcome and comfortable in the group.

So, if you are thinking of coming out to volunteer, or have any further questions please don’t hesitate to message us on Instagram or via the button below…

Dishpilers

The true unsung heroes of the kitchen. The dishpiters.

Some people love it, others hate it, either way all the pots, pans and gastros need to be washed and dried every day.

The dishpit is the first station to open and the last to close each day.

Some don the blue apron, white wellies and then disappear into the depths of the dishpit for the next few hours in their own world of scrubbing and scraping gastros containing the remnants of anything from roasted aubergine to falafel.

We are still low on volunteer numbers out in Calais which means that we are only able to serve food 5 days a week. If you would like to come out and scrub some pots or chop some vegetables please email via button below for more information!