Improving food safety, standards and access for people seeking sanctuary

Home cooked food is not only important for health; it is an integral part of cultural identity. Preparing and eating food can help associate with our past lives, create new and lasting memories, provide social connection and enable families to have control over the food they eat.

People seeking sanctuary who live in catered hotels whilst they await a decision about their asylum claim will often have little control over what and when they eat. Research shows that families and individuals staying in hotels want to enjoy healthy food but find themselves missing meals or eating high fat and carb meals. Improving food standards and embedding food as a life enhancing activity for people staying in least secure accommodation, is a key focus in the step 21: help people seeking sanctuary to settle and lead independent, healthy and happy lives.

As part of our whole system approach to supporting health and wellbeing of sanctuary seekers, partners in Newham’s Food Safety team inspected each Home Office contingency hotel. Together with a GP audit of clinic presentations, one hotel provider was forced to change caters to ensure food safety standards were being met. With the support of Newham Food Alliance organisations, we have been able to open community kitchens to allow families to cook their own meals, as well as provide hundreds of free, healthy, diverse meals to residents who otherwise would go hungry.

To find out more information about how the Welcome Newham Team support refugees and people seeking asylum, visit here.