Carib Eats’ mission is to create inclusive cultural hubs where people from all backgrounds can come together to celebrate Black heritage, reduce social isolation and improve wellbeing within the community. Carib Eats does this through its canteens which serve delicious, authentic Caribbean food in a warm and welcoming environment.
Qambar came to Hackney as a refugee from Balochistan and was keen find a place where he could get involved in the local community and help people. After coming across Volunteer Centre Hackney at a New City College progression fair, he booked an appointment with one of VCH’s volunteering advisers to chat about the types of volunteering roles available and help him find “a place to work to help people”.
Qambar registered interest in several roles advertised on VCH’s website, and the first charity to respond was Carib Eats. Ali, Carib Eats’ founder, invited him to visit a canteen to meet her and some of the existing volunteers so that he could see Carib Eats’ work in practice and find out what volunteering with the charity would involve.
Carib Eats’ mission – to nourish and bring together communities through food and social interaction – resonated with Qambar and he now volunteers with Carib Eats every week. He helps out with a variety of tasks including setting up the lunch tables, preparing and serving food and drinks, sorting and playing games and welcoming people.
“I believe these kinds of activities should be everywhere in the world because everyone deserves a good living…We are giving a space for older people to live their life fully and happily.”
Volunteering with Carib Eats, and being part of this welcoming community, has had a huge impact on Qambar’s life. Arriving in Hackney as a refugee, without his family, was isolating and stressful, but volunteering has allowed him to meet people and do something that helps the local community.
Qambar says that volunteering has improved his mental health significantly and he describes the Carib Eats team as being “like a family”, adding that volunteering has allowed him to “feel at home here, even though I am very far from my home.”
Qambar also acknowledges the way in which volunteering has helped him to learn and develop skills, noting that Ali has taught him about managing people and what is involved in running a busy community centre:
“Giving my time to volunteer through Volunteer Centre Hackney and with Ali, I can see a lot of doors opening for me, I am really happy…I encourage everyone, every student, every single person to volunteer.”
Likewise, Ali is keen to point out the benefits to Carib Eats of having volunteers like Qambar who want to get involved and are happy to learn and try new things:
“Volunteers like Qambar are at the heart of Carib Eats. Their energy, care, and willingness to learn help us build the welcoming community we’re known for. It’s a reminder that Carib Eats grows stronger when people bring their whole selves to the table.”
If you are interested in volunteering for Carib Eats, you can register interest in their canteen volunteer role on Volunteer Centre Hackney’s website.