Stories of Sanctuary: Volunteering and sharing culture through food

Shahnaz has been volunteering as a cook with Stories and Supper since 2017. She helps cook meals for their community events and their drop-ins for migrants and refugees. 

Stories and Supper has been based in Waltham Forest for nearly eight years and brings migrants and residents together over food and stories.  

We spoke to Shahnaz about her experiences volunteering: 

“I cook things based on my culture. I cook Indian food and then let them know about the taste and the story with it as well.  

“When I was feeling stressed with problems, volunteering with Stories and Supper has helped a lot. Especially Helen (director of Stories and Supper), who has been a big support for me when I joined. I love coming and sharing stories, and listening to stories as well.  

“Stories and Supper have produced a recipe book and I have some recipes featured. One is paneer curry, one is daal, and another is chicken biryani, a famous dish from Hyderabad, where I'm from. I even get recognised in Leytonstone Library from people who have read the recipe book! 

“I have a great time sharing my food for people to enjoy. Refugees are stressed with so many things, they don’t have always have time to sort out home-cooked meals. When I cook food here, they feel very happy and then they enjoy and forget about their stresses.” 

Stories and Supper are running two public events for Refugee Week 2025 at the William Morris Gallery. 

• Warm Words, Thursday 19 June, 7pm. Conversations, poetry and food from refugees and people seeking asylum. Open to all and free but booking essential. 

• Family Day, A Dream Home, Saturday 21 June, 1pm to 4pm. Explore themes of utopia, with participants playing with words and images to build a dream of a better world and think about what home means to them. Open to all and free, drop-in any time.