The RCK team is deeply saddened by the death of George Floyd - but we can find hope in the people across the world uniting to actively fight against racism. We stand in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and support their work to seek justice for people like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others. #EnoughisEnough
Migrate Art Masks ready to order!
So happy to announce that the first Migrate Art masks are now available to order!
These first masks are by 5 amazing artists -
Helen Beard
Kai and Sunny
Jon Burgerman
Miazbrothers
Richard Woods
The masks are limited edition, re-usable & reversible, with 100% of the profits going directly to RCK! Each mask is ยฃ19.99 and covers the cost of 30 hot, nutritious meals. Order yours today!
RCK OUTREACH UPDATE!
Throughout the devastating impact of Covid-19, RCK Outreach has remained committed to serving food to those who need it. Outreach is still going strong in Brixton, as well as providing food parcels and supporting service user families in Camden. We are looking at going back to a normal service in the next month as people are back on the streets.
Founder Janie Mac made it into the national press this week, talking about the current situation for homeless in London & the UK -
'Janie Mac, the co-founder of Refugee Community Kitchen which has been providing food parcels and hot meals to the homeless in Brixton and Camden, argues there are โ101 things that could have been done,โ instead of the simple act of removing people.
โYou canโt put someone thatโs been living on the streets with mental health issues and drug issues and put them in a hotel room and expect them to co-operate. There are many layers on why that is difficult for them, including isolation.
โItโs easy to look after the people who are compliant, who do what theyโre told, but the most vulnerable people are the ones who are the most difficult for many reasons. And if you havenโt sorted that out then you havenโt been successful.โ'
You can read the full article here:
BLAISE VASSEURโS EID STICKY RAISIN LAMB
Tomorrow is Eid, and we say Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating around the world from Refugee Community Kitchen! To mark the occasion we're sharing with you Blaise Vasseur's delicious recipe for Eid Sticky Raisin Lamb. We hope you enjoy -
While our food is normally 99% plant based, we make exceptions during special occasions like Eid & Easter because we do our best to help people stay connected to their culture and beliefs while living in very difficult conditions.
What youโll need:
600 grams of diced lamb
1 ltr of water
2 large onions sliced
4 cloves garlic
100 grams raisins
Pinch of turmeric powder
Pinch of cinnamon powder
Pinch of cumin powder
5 star anise
120 grams basmati rice
What to do:
Follow normal rice instructions using lamb stock. Gently boil lamb pieces with spices and 1ltr of water until cooked and tender. Cool then strain of the water and put aside. Put onion and garlic and another pinch of all spices together in a heavy pan and sweat until soft. Add raisins. Add 200ml of lamb stock and cook till raisins are plump and melting. Pour raisin sauce over the lamb and reheat. Place reheated lamb and raisin sauce on top of cooked rice, sprinkle with toasted almonds and chopped parsley.
Enjoy.
Serves 4-5
We won!
Refugee Community Kitchen is so happy to announce that we won silver in the People's Choice category of the Charity Film Awards 2020!
Big thanks to the CFA and congrats to everyone who took part.
You can watch our winning film below - made in our Calais kitchen, it covered our distributions in Dunkirk to thousands of Kurdish refugees. The film was made with Observer Food Monthly for when we won The Outstanding Achievement Award 2019!
HEAVY HEARTS
Our hearts are heavy with worry for the vulnerable people we have left behind in Northern France, who are now confronting one of the most precarious situations they have had to face on their long and difficult journeys.
There are a still a few local and international organisation on the ground doing the best they can to keep the people we serve safe, warm, fed & connected, while also tirelessly lobbying the French Government to take everyone to safety immediately.
AND we can now announce with huge relief that nearly every one of our amazing 35-strong crew of volunteers who had committed to stay as long as they possibly could, have made it home to their families. Most are self-isolating in some way or another, but all are safe and healthy today.
For now, the kitchen we all love is safely packed up but ready to be lit up at a day's notice.
In the mean time, you can sign up to our Newsletter to stay in touch and/or show interest in volunteering by clicking the links below.
Please support us with a donation if you can, this is a time to regather ourselves and come out stronger!
Big love,
RCK FAMILY
UPDATE
It is sad news that we have to announce that Refugee Community Kitchen is suspending operations in Northern France due the coronavirus.
RCK is a COMMUNITY kitchen. It is about people supporting people, and so it is with heavy hearts we have made this decision. We have to protect our volunteers, the people we serve and the people in the surrounding area.
We will be reviewing the situation over the next 3 weeks, posting updates and will be ready to start up again as soon as viably possible.
Thank you for your continued support during this unprecedented times.
Love to you all
RCK UPDATE FROM SAM JONES
France has now closed it borders and is enacting strong measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
As of now, we are still permitted to provide food. We are taking every precaution possible in order to protect both our volunteers and the EXTREMELY vulnerable people who we serve.
The refugees living rough in Northern France have no access to running water, sanitation, electricity, shelter or security. The average amount of sleep is about THREE hours thanks to perpetual, violent evictions by the police. Immune systems and spirits are low after months of abuse and brutal winter weather. Our states CANNOT ignore the thousands of people living rough on our borders during this pandemic.
We must come together during these crazy times. Thankfully we have a core group of long-term volunteers who are committed to staying but funds and numbers are low and WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Please watch and share this video and DONATE what you can
Our love goes out to all of you and your families. Stay safe.
- Refugee Community Kitchen๏ปฟ