Our story

Migrateful is an award-winning charity which supports refugees and migrants on their journey to employment and independence and promotes integration. 

The Migrateful idea was borne following discussions with a group of refugee women at a Time Bank project in Tower Hamlets. The women in the group were all very qualified, yet were unemployed because of language barriers and their qualifications were not recognised in the UK. 

When asked about the skills they could share with the group, many of them said they could cook. This gave our founder Jess the idea to launch Migrateful in July 2017; with the aim to get these women into employment by supporting them to share their incredible cooking skills with the world.

What we do

We offer cookery classes where migrant chefs share their cuisine, culture and stories with the general public. The classes not only offer the opportunity to learn how to cook delicious food but also help to reframe how vulnerable migrants are perceived and shift the narrative on migration.

Our “chefs” are referred to us because they are struggling to integrate into UK society. Many are still processing trauma after becoming victims of modern-day slavery, gender-based violence or fleeing war-torn countries. 

Our two-year programme builds chefs’ confidence, English language, and employability skills and improves overall well-being. The program starts with a 12-week foundational training, after that they start to teach their cuisines to the public whilst continuing to receive training and support from our team throughout. Training passionate migrant cooks to become cookery class teachers is the non-income generating part of our work which is why we are trying to cover the costs of it though this crowdfunding campaign. 

Cost of Living

Finding work can be extremely difficult for many migrants due to language barriers and their qualifications not being recognised. In the UK, refugees are four times more likely to be unemployed than British-born individuals.

We provide 3,100 free meals a year to those who are experiencing financial hardship when attending our cookery classes and training programmes. 

We employ refugees to teach cookery classes, providing them with an income to support them with the increased cost of living. We have also established a “solidarity fund” to offer small grants, either for specific one-off items or for food and basic needs, to those chefs who are barred from legally working and are therefore experiencing destitution. 

Why we need your help

We are seeking funding to support our chef training and support programme which supports 54 migrant cooks to become Migrateful cookery class teachers. The programme provides training, employment and a nurturing community to refugees and migrants experiencing multiple disadvantages.

Our trained chefs teach an average of 1000 classes per year to 10,000 members of the public and corporate clients helping to raise awareness and shift the negative narrative on migration.

How to get involved

Donate to receive one of the following rewards. Please note: all recipe and gift voucher rewards will be received by December 21st.

£10 or more - Mouthwatering Migrateful recipes

Our exclusive digital booklet gives you five delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes from cuisines all over the world to feed hungry friends and families. All digital recipe booklets will be received by December 21st.

£15 or more - Return travel to a chef training session

This will pay for one of our chefs' return travel costs to a chef training session in our London cookery school

£25 or more - Solidarity gift to a Migrateful chef

Your £25 will go to one of our chefs who is barred from legally working and is therefore experiencing destitution. We have established a “solidarity fund” to offer weekly £25 grants to chefs, either for specific one-off items, or for food and basic needs. We know that destitution grants can make a huge difference to their lives, and make it possible for them to survive without having to succumb to high-risk strategies.

£30 or more - Voucher for an online cooking class

With an online gift voucher, your friends and family can enjoy a Migrateful cookery class all from the comfort of their own kitchen! One online voucher covers a whole household and entitles the recipient to choose from over 10 mouthwatering cuisines. Gift vouchers will be received by December 21st.

£45 - Voucher towards an in-person cookery class 

Our in-person Migrateful gift vouchers guarantee your loved ones a fun-filled culinary and dining experience. Recipients will learn how to cook delicious traditional dishes – all while supporting our brilliant Migrateful Chefs! Gift vouchers will be received by December 21st.

£50 - Voucher towards in-person cookery class

Our in-person Migrateful gift vouchers guarantee your loved ones a fun-filled culinary and dining experience. Recipients will learn how to cook delicious traditional dishes – all while supporting our brilliant Migrateful Chefs! Gift vouchers will be received by December 21st.

£60 - Voucher towards in-person cookery class 

Our in-person Migrateful gift vouchers guarantee your loved ones a fun-filled culinary and dining experience. Recipients will learn how to cook delicious traditional dishes – all while supporting our brilliant Migrateful Chefs! Gift vouchers will be received by December 21st.

£1,000 or more - Team building cookery class for your company [10 people]

Enjoy a hands-on three-hour cookery class for 10 team members where you will work together to prepare a full feast. Hosted in the fully equipped Migrateful Cookery School in Farringdon. Drinks are available to order from our fully-stocked mini bar.

£1,000 or more - Cookery demo for your company [25 people]

1-hour interactive Cookery Demo for up to 25 team members where you will discover new recipes, techniques, and ingredients, and taste some delicious food! For those who want something shorter or would prefer to host in their own space. Our chefs will bring recipes from their kitchens to your space!

£1,500 or more - Team building cookery class for your company

A hands-on 3-hour Cookery Class for 18 team members where you will prepare a full feast. Hosted in the fully equipped Migrateful Cookery School. Drinks are available to order from our fully-stocked mini bar.

THANK YOU