GMAs Community Kitchen

Following the success of our first GMA's Family Dinner, we're fund-raising for a 2023 programme that sees us host monthly Family Dinners in South London, for local asylum seekers we support. Our Family Dinners see chefs from our community prepare a nutritious meal whilst providing desperately needed social integration, escapism and human connection. We aim to create a safe space for creativity with an Open Mic for those attending to perform or share their self-expression through music , song and spoken word. We also work with local orgs and volunteers to host childrens activities including art & drama workshops. These events are only made possible through donations and we have recently applied for Awards For All, a National Lottery Fund. However, to scale this programme and reach a wider scope of asylum seekers in need, we are turning to our wider community to support our mission.

We are so grateful for your on-going support and we will be celebrating 1 Year of GMA's with a special gift for you or a loved one this Christmas!

For donations £15 - £30, we will be gifting GMA's Secret Spice Mix + Curry Goat Recipe Card. This donation will feed a family of 3 asylum seekers at a GMA's community event next year

For donations £15 - £30+ we will be gifting the above + GMA's Mango, Pineapple & Scotch Bonnet Sauce. This donation will feed 6 asylum seekers at a GMA's community event next year

Welcome to GMAs!

We believe in a world that is no longer a binary space of this or that, him or her, old or young, those with or those without… but a revolving cycle of us. We eat, you eat, everyone eats. 

Who do we support?

We are a non-profit and CIC, supporting local asylum seekers and refugees through community & food. The people we work with have escaped some of the worlds most dangerous places including Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Ethiopia, Somalia. Many, including children, have seen awful things and have terrifying personal accounts of why they have fled.

This is not a choice. It is an endless journey of persecution, discrimination, fear & risk.

Why do we support asylum seekers & refugees in the UK?

When they arrive in the UK, after treacherous journeys… they are held in temporary accommodation, hotels, whilst they wait for the asylum claim to be heard.Families are often separated and placed in different parts of the country for no reason. This process can take up to 2 years with current backlog and disorganisation.

During this time, information is minimal, many feel totally isolated, scared and unsupported as physical and mental health deteriorates.

During this time - they have no right to work and are given just £8 a week to live off.

They are in limbo.

The hotel system is responsible for keeping their guests alive… but they are run for profit, a record £24M profit in 2022.

Instead of prioritising in human life and investing in quality accomodation and support, housing providers Clearsprings & Ready Homes, knowingly overlook the below...

We are now faced with the most recent threat to life, the inhumane deportation to Rwanda & inhumane conditions at Manston

The system is designed to break them

But we won’t let it!

We know their lives matters.

The Kitchen 

Inspired by GMA’s family recipes, the culture of joy and togetherness found in any West Indian Kitchen and our work with those in need; we provide community access and wholesome and delicious food for those currently going without. By working with various charity partners and individual cases across South London, we are able to reach the most vulnerable and deliver them a hot and delicious meal. Our work over the last year, has provided over 1,000 hot meals, 100+ asylum seekers & families supported, 7 community events and invaluable friendships created across both those we support and our wider network of support. Through fundraising, we can directly source, cook and deliver hot meals and craft meaningful community moments. By spreading awareness of issues facing asylum seekers refugees, we can encourage understanding and compassion . By mobilising our community - we can do these things together.

The Community 

The community we've created around GMAs fuels our work. Generosity is the beginning of everything and our community is based on generosity of spirit. We share this energy with good people who help make our refugee food drops happen, who support our public events, who follow, like, comment, share or message, who donate and who care about their fellow people.

We’re so grateful for your goodwill and support!

You can check out our Instagram here 

https://instagram.com/gmascommunitykitchen?utm_medium=copy_link