Migrateful provides refugee cooks with paid work, training, and opportunities to build confidence, improve English, and make new connections. Many of the chefs have fled war, violence, or persecution, and the classes offer a path toward independence and employment.
Beyond cooking, Migrateful’s mission is to challenge negative perceptions of migration in the UK. Its model is based on psychologist Gordon Allport’s well-validated “contact theory”, which sets out the conditions under which contact between refugees and host communities can successfully reduce prejudice towards refugees. Migrateful’s cookery classes are designed to meet these conditions, including having participants of equal status working collaboratively on a common goal – in this case the creation of a delicious meal.
In light of recent anti-migrant protests and increased xenophobic attacks in the city, initiatives like this are more important than ever. Migrateful offers a positive solution to the growing divisions in our society, bringing people together to foster understanding and build a Bristol that is welcoming for all.
