A group of Migrateful participants toss their graduation hats in the air during a London Cookery Class.

Our Mission

We support migrants on their journey to integration and independence and work to foster a more welcoming environment for migrants in the UK. We do this by supporting migrants to teach cookery classes to the general public.

Our Vision

At Migrateful, we envision a society where each person’s contribution to society is valued, no matter where they have come from.

1. situation

Migrants

Migrants face barriers to integrating and contributing to UK society
A purple plate with a fork and knife on it, featured in a London Cookery Class offered by Migrateful.

public

Immigration is often perceived negatively by UK society

2. Activities

A purple plate with a fork and knife on it, featured in a London Cookery Class offered by Migrateful.
Changing narratives through Press & Research

Support

Training and holistic support to migrants to become Migrateful chefs 
A purple plate with a fork and knife on it, featured in a London Cookery Class offered by Migrateful.
Changing narratives through Press & Research

classes

Chefs teach cookery classes to the public

3. Outcomes

For the chefs

intermediate outcomes

Increased employability
Increased access to other volunteering, educational and employment opportunities
Increased confidence in mixing with other people
Improved English
Increased sense of belonging in the UK

long term outcomes

Migrants more integrated and able to fully contribute to society 
Two women are attending a Migrateful London Cookery Class in a kitchen, where they are preparing food.

For the public

intermediate outcomes

Warmer attitudes to migrants
Increased knowledge about issues faced with migrants
A Migrateful London Cookery Class featuring a purple circle with three people in aprons.

long term outcomes

A more welcoming society for migrants which is enriched by their contributions

Contact Theory

We believe our model is unique, it is based on psychologist Gordon Allport’s well validated “contact theory” which sets out the conditions under which intergroup contact between marginalised and host communities can successfully reduce prejudice. The conditions include having participants of equal status working collaboratively on a common goal. Migrateful’s classes are designed to meet these conditions and promote positive contact. People from different backgrounds come together, ostensibly to learn to cook. But in so doing, stereotypes are challenged: the migrant is leading the class, everyone is cooperating (sharing tasks in preparing the meal, which is then eaten together) and the intimate setting enables personal stories to emerge. Independent research in 2021 tested out these assumptions at Migrateful classes with positive results. The research found that the opportunity to have direct, personal contact with vulnerable migrants through the cookery class has a deeply humanising effect, and importantly shifted attitudes and behaviour.