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2025-04-30-accounts

annual report

2025/26

Plateful Café empowers refugees through food, employment, and training.

In 2024, we delivered paid opportunities, shared global cuisines, and fostered community through events, building towards a permanent home in Lewisham.

This report highlights our impact, and growth this year.

1 Our founder

7 Our volunteers

Our founder 1

Our second year of operations has been one of uncertainty, but great resilience and incredible support from our community of supporters, friends and beneficiaries. Our delicious food is a hit at pop-ups, external catering and private dining. Food has an incredible power to bring people together and break down barriers. At the dinner table, we are united by our shared humanity and love of good food. We continue to cater for dinners, events and also at markets successfully, and the impact is shown in this report.

Our cooks continue to perfect their dishes and improve skills in preparing a variety of menus for different audiences and according to strict timescales. It is reassuring to see all of them improving their skills and knowledge, and also getting jobs after their time at Plateful Café. We are also very proud to support a baker from Sudan who has set up Nubian Delights. Her cookies and cakes continue to grow in popularity, and we are delighted to see her business grow.

Despite not having a physical venue, we managed to prepare and deliver food to many locations and new and old supporters. We have been inspired by their unwavering support and the excellent reviews they have provided.

Our wonderful and hardworking team of volunteers are the driving force behind our charity, as we do not have paid staff apart from the cooks who receive the London Living wage. At any given time, we work with at least 50 volunteers, from all walks of life, of all ages and many nationalities. They continue to each give a minimum of two hours per week for a staggering 5200 hours per year.

In 2025, we forged new partnerships with Mikes Table, Spitalfields Farm, and Brixton Windmill, Linklaters Law Firm, SET Social, and continue to work with Netflix, Katten Law Firm, Pistachios in the Field, Hill Station Café, and more!

What will 2025 bring?

At the moment of writing, at the end of a very busy Refugee Week, we are proud to announce a new residency at the Hill Station café, where we will be every Wednesday evening in the summer, and also a new residency at Spitalfields Farm launched on the 18th of July with a Taste of Sudan meal and live jazz music.

It remains challenging to operate as a volunteer-led organisation without fixed-term staff members in place. I continue to dedicate myself full-time as a volunteer, working seven days a week, often over eight hours a day, managing volunteers, overseeing operations, and supporting with cooking and deliveries. Despite the demands, I’m hopeful that our ongoing fundraising efforts will soon enable us to employ a dedicated Café Manager and Trainer. We’re also currently in discussions for a potential venue, and we’re optimistic that it will lead to a positive outcome.

The importance of supporting refugees

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As 2024 came to a close, we were relieved to hear the news of the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal 24-year dictatorship. In 2025, we hope the regime’s fall has a positive effect on the situation in Syria. However, with the UK alongside many other European countries choosing to pause decisions of asylum claims from Syrian nationals, there is certain to be growing fear and uncertainty amongst Syrian asylum seekers in the UK (Right to remain, 2024). Furthermore, Asylum seekers are prohibited from working and are provided just £7 per day by the Government to cover their basic necessities. How would you manage living on £7 a day? (Refugee Council, 2024).

The moment someone is finally granted refuge in the UK should be symbolic of the end to instability and a moment of relief and liberation. However, many newly recognised refugees face homelessness, poverty and unemployment amongst many other challenges. This is because once their asylum claim is finally accepted, just 28 days later, they must leave their Home Office accommodation and government financial support stops. This is where Plateful Café steps in. Our 8-week training programme offers more than just skills; it provides a stable foundation for refugees to rebuild their lives, overcome barriers, and work towards long-term independence. We are extremely proud of our offerings that include providing our trainees with UK work experience, a Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification, barista and catering skills, CV and interview support, and tailored 1:1 guidance toward their future employment goals. Alongside this, the chance to share their cultural heritage through food helps foster connection and integration into their new community here in South East London.

With over 50% of refugees unemployed even five years after arrival in the UK (compared to 4.2% in the general population) (Refugee Council, 2023), refugees must have access to this training. When trainees complete the programme, opportunities don’t stop. They are invited to join our paid team of chefs, lead community dinners, or deliver cooking workshops, creating a lasting pathway to empowerment.

However, despite the strength of our training program, we are not yet able to offer a secure, consistent income to all our chefs. Without a permanent venue, we’re limited in the number of paid opportunities we can provide, meaning we rely instead on market stalls, monthly dinners, and catering opportunities. While we pay the London Living Wage for every shift, we simply can’t sustain regular hours for all the incredible chefs who complete our programme.

This lack of stability impacts our chefs deeply. Many are ready and eager to work, to contribute, and to build a future, but are held back by the gaps between events or lack of space to cook. A permanent venue would transform our impact. It would allow us to operate a full-time café, expand our training capacity, and offer long-term employment to more chefs. Above all, we want to offer our chefs a permanent space where they can feel confident and grow.

Unlike traditional top-down approaches, our training program is built from the ground up, shaped by the needs of refugees themselves. We meet people, our refugees, where they are, and walk alongside them to support them. This ethos is what sets us apart.

About Plateful

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Plateful Café is a refugee-led charity which provides employment opportunities to refugees and brings together our community through the love of food. Plateful Café was set up in December 2022 by our founder Iolanda Chirico with the mission to empower refugees to obtain mainstream employment in the catering industry. We work with a vast range of creative refugees who share dishes from their home country and are paid London Living Wage to bring them to the public.

They are provided with tailored training to expand their existing culinary skills alongside building vital skills for the workplace in the UK.

Our mission

Our vision: A community where everyone, regardless of their journey, finds belonging, dignity, and purpose through the unifying power of food and creativity.

Our Mission: To empower refugees by providing meaningful employment opportunities in a welcoming café environment, fostering community connections, breaking down barriers, and celebrating diverse cultures through the shared language of food.

Our values:

Inclusion1

We believe everyone deserves to be welcomed, regardless of their background or circumstances. Without our diverse community, Plateful Café would not be the vibrant, unique place it is. Our charity is here to treat everyone with respect and provide opportunities that acknowledge amazing talents, skills, and humanity.

2 Empowerment

We believe refugees deserve meaningful work, skills development, and opportunities for self-expression. This is why we are proudly a real-living wage provider for our talented chefs. We also empower refugees to become artists, artisans and more! When these products are sold at our events, the creator receives the full 100% of the profits from the sale.

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Community

At the core of our charity is the community. Our refugees, volunteers, local community and you all make this possible! We believe that sharing cultural heritage, food, stories, and traditions can build bridges between diverse groups, foster relationships, and reduce isolation.

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Our impact

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TRADED INCOMEOTHER INCOME 19% 49 refugee community
tickets sold empowerment & events
community
£28total revenue . 3K 81% £1.1K ticket revenue 12 refugee chefs employed public events dinners and hosted 3
664 catering events 21
total hours of paid work created delivered
951 [customers]
JUNE 2024 MAY 2024 107 57 £7328 total wages paid to refugees
JULY 2024 64 89 £16.5K market stalls/
AUGUST 2024 external catering attendedpop-ups 12
SEPTEMBER 2024 116 12
OCTOBER 2024 107 refugee trainees supported
NOVEMBER 2024DECEMBER 2024FEBRUARY 2025 4835 109 192 20 topproducts through our programme
MARCH 2025APRIL 2025 27 1 Chicken Shawarma wrap Product Number sold 141 volunteer our growing reach
2 Falafel wrap 119 & local support
3 Falafel 69
4 Syrian chilli paste 66
5 Fatayer 49 65x [volunteers] involved
6 Kibbeh 43 Our café closed in April 2024 but we Languages spoken across our team:
£5.2K [sales] 7 Basbousa cake 37 catering, pop-ups and markets to continue continued to operate through external Arabic, Farsi, Amharic, French, Spanish, Tigrinya and Italian.
8 Mini pizza 35 our mission.
MAY 2024 £312
9 Apple jam 30
JUNE 2024 £311 10 Water 29
JULY 2024 £527 11 Carrot jam 28
AUGUST 2024 £686 12 Potato finger 23
SEPTEMBER 2024 £118 13 Yemeni tea 22
OCTOBER 2024 £833 14 Syrian truffles 21
NOVEMBER 2024 £230 15 Pumpkin jam 19 Local partners we’ve collaborated with: Set Social, Pistachio in the Park, Hill Our amazing founder and incredible team of volunteers dedicate their time and
DECEMBER 2024FEBRUARY 2025 £488 £830 1617 Watermelon sliceChips 1811 5x donations [grants and] Netflix, Team Lewis, Linklaters and Katten.Station Café, Facework, Refugee Council, Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network, Every penny we raise goes directly to energy completely for free!
MARCH 2025 £355 1819 Halloumi cheese and oilCards 109 Our new partners include: Spitalfields Farm supporting refugees and making a difference.
APRIL 2025 £508 and Lewisham Art House.
20 Samosas 9
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Our volunteers

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Tejan

Mateo

My name is Tejan Pereira. I am 25 years old and live in south London. I’ve been volunteering at Plateful Café since its inception in 2022.

I volunteer at Plateful Café because I’m inspired by its mission to empower local refugees through food. Through my three years at the café I’ve met such fantastic people – both refugees and volunteers who are all committed to making our community a more inclusive and delicious place!

In my spare time I’m a keen runner and have recently taken up laying tennis and, in turn, putting all of south London’s green spaces to use! Other than that, I work for an urban planning tech start-up in my day job and I’m a keen food and music lover which makes Plateful Café a good fit!

Hi! I’m Mateo and I work as a volunteer filmmaker for Plateful Café. I started working for Plateful last summer just after I had finished my Master’s Degree and was keen to do some filmmaking (I’d studied film and journalism at Uni).

I saw the role for volunteer filmmaker advertised online, and since joining everyone has been extremely nice and friendly to me and it’s been great to help out where I can (and also to try some of the delicious food!)

I really respect Plateful’s mission and the amount of work that its volunteers put into making it a successful charity. Having left education and not really knowing what to do with myself, being able to volunteer at Plateful was a fantastic opportunity to broaden my horizons.

I have recently started a job at a music venue in marketing/social media/events management. I am certain my work at Plateful – where I was able to develop my skills and gain hands-on practical experience – was the main reason for my being hired.

Overall, it’s been great to volunteer at Plateful and I wish to continue to do so well into the future!

Our volunteers

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Zayn

I am a volunteer coordinator for Plateful Café. I manage recruitment of volunteers. In my day-to-day life I work for a university in HR.

I volunteer for Plateful Café for the thrill of making a difference to the refugees who come here. I know how traumatic and unsettling it is. My auntie and uncle were refugees from Uganda so I have second-hand experience.

Between work and charity-work I walk 10K a weekend and run 2K. I also enjoy watching crime shows and I love sport – football, tennis and horse racing. I am also learning and practicing to become a part-time football trader.

Katryn

I joined Plateful Café in December 2024 as a coordinator. I’m attracted to working with a charity that provides support for asylum and refugee people. That the charity provides food for the community is new to me.

I previously worked in contemporary dance theatre and have enjoyed world food for a long time. I’m so happy to be working with over 20 volunteers to engage and bring connectivity between all the groups and create the monthly newsletter.

I have 14 years’ experience as a director for a non-profit business which includes fundraising, financial management for project-based activity working with financial income from funders and public.

I have managed and fundraised successfully with several years of professional experience in arts and cultural management. Financial management has been the core of running a business. My work has been primarily based in the not-for-profit sector. I have a great focus toward equality and inclusivity, safeguarding, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Our volunteers

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Adeleke

I have always been passionate about using my skills and experience to create real impact in society. Volunteering at Plateful Café gave me the chance to support a meaningful cause by helping refugees and vulnerable people while also gaining valuable experience working in the UK.

Before joining Plateful Café I worked as an accountant and internal auditor at First Technical University in Nigeria. I also have experience in the banking sector, which gave me a solid background in finance and internal controls as an account support officer.

Academically, I hold a Master’s Degree in Finance and Risk and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance.

company where roles are more limited, I was able to learn quickly and contribute directly to the organisation’s growth.

I helped set up financial systems, created monthly management reports and designed dashboards to support better decision-making. My work contributed to the café’s growth from a small project into a fully functioning restaurant and helped improve its profitability and financial stability.

Overall, volunteering at Plateful Café allowed me to apply my finance background to a meaningful cause, gain practical UK experience and grow, both professionally and personally.

When I joined Plateful Café it was a start-up. This gave me the unique opportunity to get involved from the beginning and take on a wide range of responsibilities, Unlike in a big

Our volunteers

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Ella
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Erica

I joined Plateful as a social media manager in May. Since joining, I’ve been supporting the promotion of events and collabs and focussing on raising awareness about the amazing impact Plateful Café is having on the local community. Its been really rewarding to help share stories and show how the work we do is making a real difference in people’s lives.

Feeling frustrated by the limited government support for refugees in England, I saw volunteering with Plateful Café as a way to make a tangible difference. Along the way, I met their incredible chefs - driven individuals eager to share their love of cooking, build workplace skills, and find a sense of purpose through food.

I joined Plateful because the charity’s mission is really close to my heart. I was interested in social media and saw this as a great opportunity to develop new skills in that area. I also recently moved to London and was hoping to find a sense of community where I can make a difference. It’s been such a positive and inspiring experience to be part of a team.

I managed Plateful’s social media, keeping their Instagram community informed about upcoming events, introducing the chefs, food and recipes from their homeland, and helping to challenge the stereotypes often attached to refugees.

I love Plateful’s mission and hope they continue to thrive in supporting refugees on their journey to rebuilding their lives through meaningful work.

Our volunteers

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Meg
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Jo

I moved to London from the USA in 2019. I started volunteering with Plateful Café in the beginning of the year and it’s been an incredible experience.

Jo Munro has been our driver for over two years driving products and food to a number of locations and also helping at markets, pop-ups etc.

I’ve worked in marketing for the past five years and wanted a way to use my professional skill-set to help others, so when I cam across this opportunity I knew it was a perfect fit!

Jo is patient, hard working and very sympathetic to our cause. Without her help we would not have been able to run some events or cater. These activities require lot of logistical and practical help which Jo continues to provide with great patience and flexibility.

Now I help manage the website for Iolanda and the charity, leading the team of website volunteers and making sure our site is up to scratch in terms of content, SEO, messaging and so much more.

Volunteering here has been nothing short of rewarding and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.

Our volunteers

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Adela
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We would like to congratulate Adela Resuli for all her efforts with designing our leaflets, menus etc. For months she has worked tirelessly to create unique designs for our promotional materials, paying great attention to detail and always executing to deadline.

At very short notice and sometimes over the weekend, Adela worked on new promotional material having it ready by Monday.

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Enxhi
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Enxhi Lami is our Treasurer and has been with Plateful Café since the start.

She has set up all our financial systems and procedures and continues to train and support our finance volunteers. She is responsible for cashflow, budgets, management accounts and at the end of the year she prepares the accounts which are then sent to the Auditor for independent examination.

Adela, thanks a lot for your flexibility, great work ethic and professionalism. It continues to be a great pleasure working with you!

She has worked tirelessly over the past two years and continues to give at least two hours per week to upload the monthly income and expenditure on Free Agent.

Enxhi is a qualified accountant and we are privileged to have her on board!

Our highlights of the year

Community Champions

Plateful café was delighted to be voted members and associates of Lewisham Council as a community champion in the community/faith group category which recognises the work we do for the refugee community.

The Albany

In June 2024, we proudly delivered our biggest catering event to date at The Albany for Lewisham Council’s Refugee Week Sanctuary Celebration, a powerful event for our chefs and community. As the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, Lewisham welcomed hundreds to honour the contributions of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers and thus is the perfect place for a base. It was a joy to serve food that told stories, sparked connection, and celebrated the spirit of sanctuary.

Pullens Festival 2024

Pullens Festival 2024 marked our biggest festival participation to date and was a true highlight of the year. Held on 31 August, the event brought together music, art, poetry, workshops and community spirit. We had the opportunity to serve a well-received menu of hot food while also showcasing and selling our artisan jams, condiments and sweets made by our refugee chefs. It was a great day of community and culture.

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Our training programme 15

We recruit out of work refugees who have a passion for home cooking and take them through an eight-week training programme which takes them from home cooks to confident cooks in a professional café.

The training programme includes:

UK work experience Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene qualification English speaking practice A foundation course in working in a community café

Trainees also receive 1:1 help towards their long-term employment goals including signposting to extra training, advice looking for jobs with a local employer and well being support.

They also have the option to get involved in events, monthly community dinners, private catering and the making of our products.

During this course, trainees learn the practical culinary skills needed to work in a busy café cooking lunch, dinner, pastries and cakes, and three course meals served at our busy monthly community dinners.

They also develop practical expertise and the knowledge to produce a range of food products to cater for a busy service in a café.

We began offering training at Parkside Community Centre in June 2023 to give our cooks the opportunity to build confidence, gain hands-on experience with professional kitchen equipment, and learn how to prepare and serve dishes in a commercial setting. The programme also included online training in food hygiene and allergen awareness, as well as barista skills. To support English language development, we provided one-to-one English conversation sessions throughout the course.

Alongside the training, we provide holistic support for our chefs, including assistance with everyday challenges, and a warm, welcoming community where they feel valued and supported.

Our online shop and pop-up events

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At Plateful Café, a key chain of our income and marketing is bringing our mission to life through our products. These are sold on our online shop at platefulcafe.co.uk and at local markets.

Each product we sell, whether a hand-knitted product, or a unique piece of artwork, is lovingly crafted by our community of refugees. It shows their skills, traditions and often through their artwork, their stories.

Our preserved foods are a customer favourite, especially our range of imaginative, flavour-packed jams that always have repeat customers. Markets are an especially joyful time for us, allowing us to meet new people, share our story, and invite customers to connect. And, when the holidays come around, we offer bespoke, seasonal products that make perfect gifts and add a meaningful touch to the festivities.

Our catering and supper club

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Whether it’s a wedding, office event, or an intimate dinner at home, Plateful Café brings unforgettable food and purpose to every occasion. Our catering service prioritises beautifully presented meals, and dishes rooted in the cultural heritage of our incredible refugee chefs. We regularly host catered event including Community Dinner Fundraisers and Dinners with live music which bring the community together and spread the joy of supporting our mission.

In May, we proudly launched our brand-new Supper Club initiative, kicking off with a special private fundraising dinner in a warm Brockley home. On March 29th, 18 guests gathered around a table to enjoy a lovingly prepared Iranian vegetarian feast, cooked by one of our talented chefs. The evening raised over £700 in support of our mission to empower refugees through food and hospitality.

In January, we had the joy of catering two incredibly special occasions that marked exciting milestones for Plateful Café. We hosted our very first wedding reception for the wonderful Anne-Marie and Gids and, we also helped Clare celebrate her birthday in style, serving up a delicious spread that made the evening truly memorable.

In February, we launched our collaborative supper club with Mike’s Table, held at the iconic Brixton Windmill. This one-of-a-kind event brought together 36 guests to enjoy a vibrant Sudanese-inspired vegetarian feast, live jazz by musicians Rudi Creswick and Kaidi Akinnibi, and heartfelt hospitality. Our talented refugee chefs from Plateful Café, Maysoon, Manizha and Bahara, served up samosas, koshari, and a stunning Valentine’s cake, while Mike’s Table co-chefs Andi and Simon complemented the menu with a sweet potato, coconut and chilli soup, and vegetable tagine. The collaborative menu showcased the creativity and skill of everyone involved, with guests eager to try every dish. The evening also featured a joyful raffle with handmade gifts from Brixton Windmill and Plateful Café, and a pop-up shop selling artisanal refugee-made goods. All proceeds supported Plateful Café’s mission to empower refugee chefs with fair pay, training, and opportunities in hospitality.

Our catering reviews

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Partnering with Refugee Cafe is a true privilege. Their work not only supports people rebuilding their lives but also brings our team closer to different cultures and stories. For ’ our customers, it s a chance to enjoy authentic dishes from ’ — around the world. It s a beautiful exchange food, culture, and community all coming together.

Jacqui Shimidzu Hill Station Café CIC

Plateful were INCREDIBLE from start to finish. Amazing menu, wonderful flexibility to deliver what I wanted for my 50th birthday party, unbelievably tasty food, generous portions, very reasonably priced, delivered to our — door AND a spectacular birthday cake, literally the cherry on the icing on the cake of a fabulous, memorable ’ birthday. We couldn t have asked for more. THANK YOU!

Simon

The food from Plateful Cafe was a huge hit with everyone. Meaningful (and affordable) for us to be supporting this amazing cause.

Elizabeth

Mayor of London, Violence Reduction Unit

Our partnerships

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Maysoon Mohammed, Nubian Delights

Hello, I’m Maysoon, founder of Nubian Delights. My love for baking began in Sai (Nubba land north Sudan), where I learned from my grandmother that baking is about more than just sweets – it’s about sharing love, memories, and tradition.

I came to the UK to build a better future for my family and to follow my passion. Starting over in a new country wasn’t easy, but it gave me the chance to turn my dream into a business. Working with Plateful Café has been a truly uplifting experience for me.

As a new business starter, I was struggling to find customers and promote my work. Being part of Plateful Café gave me so much more than just kitchen space – it gave me support, encouragement, and real opportunities. Hey invited me to take part in the Mike’s Table event where had the honour of presenting my bakes alongside professional chefs. It was a big moment for me and helped me believe in myself even more.

Katya Griffin, Lewisham Borough of Sanctuary network

Plateful Café is a valued partner in the Lewisham Borough of Sanctuary network.

Lewisham Council was delighted to be able to support Plateful Café’s work through the Borough of Sanctuary 2025 small grant of £1,500.

The grant enabled the organisation to offer a free Refugee Week community meal, offering employment and work experience to refugee chefs and offering an opportunity for Lewisham’s communities to socialise and learn about each other.

Plateful Café’s work exemplifies what being a place of sanctuary is all about: it enables people seeking sanctuary to lead, to use their existing skills, develop new ones and to rebuild their lives; it fosters a sense of community, solidarity and belonging.

Plateful Café also encourage me to join a number of local events, which made a real difference. I began to meet new people, gain confidence, and reach potential customers – many of whom were referred to me through the café. These experiences pushed me to challenge myself and created even better products, because I wanted to make them proud. Their belief in me and my mission – that everyone deserves a sweet treat – has helped shape the growth of Nubian Delights in the most beautiful way.

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Our team

Our trustee board of all refugees:

Esmat Keshavarz

Esmet brings 29 years of experience in education, having served as a teacher, principal, and high school education counsellor in Iran. At Plateful Café, she shares not only her deep educational expertise but also her passion for arts and crafts, enriching our community with creativity.

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Enxhi Lami (Co-Treasurer)

Enxhi is also a qualified ACCA member with a strong academic background in finance. She holds an MSc in Global Finance (Distinction) from the University of Westminster, London, and a BSc in Finance and Banking (Highest Honours) from the European University of Tirana, Albania. As Co-Treasurer, Enxhi brings impactful financial advice to Plateful Café.

Andy Rowland

Maysoon Mohammed

Maysoon is the proud founder of Nubian Delights, a vibrant bakery business offering cakes, mini cakes, cupcakes, and biscuits with a unique Sudanese twist. Backed by a degree in Business Management, she combines her entrepreneurial skills with a passion for baking to bring bold flavours and beautifully crafted treats to the community.

Andy brings extensive leadership experience and a strong track record in both strategic and operational management. With a deep commitment to social impact, he has led enterprises through times of growth and crisis, always with a focus on community engagement. His dedication to an empowerment ethos makes him a valued member at Plateful Café.

Iolanda Chirico (Founder)

Hafiza Ayesha Syeda (Co-treasurer)

Hafiza brings over 20 years of experience in accounting and risk assessment across Pakistan and the UK. An Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) member with a BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting, she plays a vital role as Co-Treasurer, helping us with financial transparency at Plateful Café.

Iolanda has over 30 years of experience in the charity sector, dedicated to supporting refugees and creating pathways to inclusion. She is the founder of three impactful initiatives—Action for Refugees in Lewisham, Refugee Café, and Plateful Café—all rooted in her unwavering commitment to supporting refugees. Through her leadership, countless refugees have found opportunities, support, and a sense of belonging.

Our team

Our creators:

At Plateful Café, we’re proud to support not only refugee chefs but also talented artists from displaced communities. Many of the artworks we showcase and sell are deeply personal expressions and portray stories of loss, resilience, identity, and hope. For the artists, creating this work can be an emotional journey, often rooted in difficult experiences and memories.

Supporting these artists is about providing a platform for creativity as a form of healing and empowerment.

Javad Karimi

I’m 24 years old and was born in Afghanistan, but when I was young my family took us from our home to seek refuge in Iran.

My family’s living conditions were very difficult in Iran because we were living there as refugees. Therefore, we were not supported like the local people. Many resources were not available to us and I was prohibited from studying.

'Mask' - acrylic paint on canvas

I’ve loved painting since I was a child and for as long as I can remember I’ve always painted. I’ve always dreamed of being an artist, but also an art professor so I can give many people the education and opportunities I never had growing up.

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Nazgol Golmuradi

I am a 20 year old artist from Iran. I came to Greece when I was 17 with my father, but he was deported back to Iran not long after we arrived. I endured many hardships in Greece, both in the refugee camps and in Athens, alone without my father. Until I started painting again.

I have been interested in painting since I was a child. 'Be Kind to Yourself' As long as I can remember, I always painted and even acrylic paint on canvas though I did not have the support from my family, for a while I even took classes and learned basic techniques. Where I am from, women do not get to choose their paths, which is one of the reasons why we came to Europe-my family wanted me to have freedoms.

I always try to express my feelings when I paint, or create more conceptual pieces about my own life or the lives of others. It is very important to me that my painting be based on reality. However, sometimes I also create fantasy paintings, which allow me to live in my imagination, and find an escape from reality sometimes. In Greece, we immigrants are deprived of our rights, and life can be hell sometimes. So, in fact, the only thing that matters to me now is to live a quiet and trouble-free life in a corner of the world. It doesn’t matter to me which country I go to, the only thing that matters to me is peace. I seek peace.

My wish for every artist is to have the opportunity to express their talents and leave a positive legacy for others in the future. May your souls be brightened with our talent.

I took the idea of this painting from the bottom of my heart.

Our team

Our volunteers:

Without volunteers, Plateful Café wouldn’t exist. Every meal we serve, every event we run, and every opportunity we create has volunteers involved at every step of the process.

They all bring their skills and time, making a huge difference!

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Finance Enxhi, Ayesha, Adeleke
Events Amina, Lawrence, Monia, Sara, Shannon, Smriti, Tejan, Bella
Website Alex, Alex Humphries, Richard, Tejan, Yehia, Sara
Admin Gabriel, Lisa, Orla
Social Media Erica, Yehia
Design Adela, Katya
Corporate Asrar
Fundraising Helmut
Filmmakers Lawrence, Mateo
Traders Jo, Tamara, Lotte
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A word from our volunteer - Aref:

Aref is a Kurd from Afrin, Syria, he came to the UK seeking safety and the chance to rebuild a life marked by years of conflict, multiple displacement with his family, persecution, discrimination and instability. Aref arrived in the UK hoping for dignity, stability, and the opportunity to contribute.

But shortly after his arrival, the UK government announced a pause on asylum decisions for Syrians. “I had only just arrived, trying to understand the system and find my footing,” he explains. “Then suddenly everything stopped, my life, my plans, all frozen.”

Since that announcement in December 2024, he has lived in a constant state of limbo. “It’s been mentally exhausting,” he says. “You can’t work, can’t study properly, can’t make plans. You’re just stuck, waiting, with no control over your future.”

The uncertainty has taken a toll. “This pause means I can’t move forward with my life. I want to study, work, and contribute, but I’m not allowed. Instead, I live with anxiety every day.”

Ending the pause would be life-changing. “If the government resumed decisions, I could finally start living, not just surviving. I could rebuild, focus on my goals, and give something back.”

And many others!

Our team

The possibility of being forced to return to Syria. “It’s not safe. The country is fractured. HTS, a group known for Islamist extremism, controls the central government and imposes harsh and radical rules. But many areas are outside even their control. There are warlords, armed militias, and regions with no real governance at all.”

He continues: “The danger is real. Sectarian, ethnic, political, and religious differences can still cost people their lives. kidnappings, detentions, and assassinations are common. The same old regime henchmen are still active, and many current officials are under global sanctions. Israeli airstrikes regularly hit targets inside Syria. It’s chaos, there is no safety, no justice, and no protection.”

When asked that conservatives suggested most Syrian asylum claims were related to the threat posed by Assad’s government and those people could return when it was safe to do so?

“It’s a dangerous oversimplification. The threat was never only Assad. 14 years of war destroyed the country’s structure. It’s the entire ecosystem of chaos that still exists. The country is fractured, sectarian and ethnic hostility have become more prominent, with lawless areas controlled by different armed groups. The danger is still there, just with more faces and more flags. Syria isn’t safe to return to. Not for me.”

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You!

By reading this annual report, you are part of our team! Thank you for being so supportive. Want to do even more? Whether it’s donating, volunteering, or spreading the word, every action makes a difference.

Visit https://platefulcafe.co.uk to get involved and help us keep the mission going!

r-w •Sj. +K) )1:

Our chefs

Hadis

I am Hadis, a Persian woman. I came to the UK around four years ago. I worked as a physiotherapist back home and hadn’t any experience working at a café before immigration.

My first experience working in a café started at Plateful Café, where I learned to work as a chef, barista, cashier, and waitress. I learned about salesmanship and customer service.

I learned how to prepare and cook several Syrian appetisers, main courses, and desserts.

Working there was a great opportunity to connect with international people, improve my English language and increase my confidence in the work environment of a new country. I was sad to be away from my family and homeland. By holding Iranian events there, I was able to show parts of my country’s culture, art, history, and food style, and this had a positive effect on changing my mood.

With the experience and resume I gained there, I was able to apply for jobs at other cafés and get accepted.

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Faten

I am Faten from Syria. I came to the UK around five years ago. I wasn’t working in Syria because I got married at a young age, so I was good at cooking.

My first experience working in a café started with Plateful Café, where I learned to work as a chef, barista and in customer service. I have become more experienced in dealing with customers and more experienced in cooking and serving dishes, especially Syrian dishes.

People used to love the dishes we used to serve, such as shawarma, kibbeh, falafel and various salads.

I got to know people from different countries, and I learned different dishes from them, and my English was improved. It was difficult to integrate here because of the language, but the coffee shop helped us a lot with that.

It was great to work with Iolanda. Maybe now I am more able to work thanks to that. Great support for refugees is a reason to help them build a successful new life in a country different from their country.

So thank you from the heart Iolanda.

I would like to thank Iolanda for all her efforts and kindness in supporting us women to enter the workforce and earning money to have a better life. I hope she is always successful on her path and receives more support.

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Our chefs
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Kevin

My name is Kevin. I come from Albania.

I came in to the UK three years ago and I used to work in the first year of moving here as a grocery store staff member.

Eventually I moved out in another area that I used to work and after some research of other different job opportunities I was presented to Plateful Café.

My first experience in Plateful Café started by working as a barista, chef, cashier, cleaner, dish washer and waiter in the first months of working there. I learned how to serve to the costumers, how to talk to the customers, and how to prepare all sorts of drinks, food and desserts.

Working there was a really good opportunity to talk and meet so many international and interesting people to be able to know other cultures and food around the world.

Finally, I would like to thank Iolanda for this opportunity and her efforts and her kindness for helping us build experience for other work opportunities in the future.

I hope she is successful on her path and receives the support that she needs.

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Our residency at Parkside 29 Community Centre

Plateful Café was at Parkside from June 2023 to April 2024.

We started by providing hospitality training from June to August and then ran taster sessions in August for resident engagement and to develop a customer base. We officially opened to the public on the 7th of September running the Café at Parkside from Thursdays to Saturdays 9.30am-3pm offering a delicious Syrian inspired menu covering breakfast, lunch, hot/cold drinks and snacks.

We understood that the space could offer many opportunities, so we also sold a variety of our artisan products made by local refugees such as jams/condiments as well as paintings and bespoke products for festivities such as Christmas and forthcoming Valentine.

Residents were not always available during the day of the café due to work commitments, so we launched our Community Dinner programme, running two sold out events themed around Iranian cuisine with music, art and poetry.

Our goal was and is to make top quality food for affordable prices for all. Our food was popular, with 5 star reviews on Google Business, and we engaged with residents to match our pricing to their expectations.

Our programme for training refugees was also successful. We had eight refugees in our first cohort, from Syria and Iran. They were trained to work in a commercial kitchen, in using equipment safely, preparing and serving their traditional dishes in a café, obtained Food Hygiene and Allergens certificates, customer service and Barista training.

We worked with them once they graduated to find further employment. One moved on to permanent work as a chef in a local nursery and two more secured

Our residency at Parkside 30 Community Centre

work placements in an independent café. We are assisting one chef to launch his own business selling Spirulina growing kits. Two more cooks are being assisted to re qualify in Pharmacy and physiotherapy as their qualifications are not accepted in the UK.

A total of 12 local BAME young people also volunteered in the café’s front and back of the house. The young people assisted the cooks in the kitchen and also served at the front of house which improved their customer service and cooking skills.

at The Star of Greenwich pub, we were unfortunately unable to progress with the venue as hoped.

Without a permanent base, we’ve faced significant operational challenges. We’ve been limited in the number of chefs we can train and employ at once, and the lack of a kitchen on-site means we’re constantly navigating the logistics of preparing food off-site and transporting it, making it harder to grow. Yet despite these setbacks, our commitment to our mission has never wavered.

Our mission aligned with one of the key objectives of the borough’s council - defending the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, along with a network of notfor-profit organisations in this sector, offering a rich source of potential referrals and collaboration opportunities.

We developed partnerships with several local organisations including Lewisham (Catering and ESOL departments) and Goldsmiths College (Student Action for Refugees), Greenwich Cake Club, the Refugee Council, Hill Trader, Migration Museum, Sanstore, Lewisham Local, and Creative Impact Club. This network was and is very important to us. It helps us promote the café in the local area, provide activities and classes to our chefs and the community, and continue building momentum for the organisation.

To overcome these hurdles, we’re actively searching for a new permanent space that can house our chefs, support our operations, and serve as a true community hub. In the meantime, we’ve expanded into new income-generating initiatives, from catering weddings and corporate events to launching intimate private dining experiences where our chefs cook directly in people’s homes. These new strands not only provide vital income but also help our chefs continue to integrate, build language skills and connect with local communities. We’ve also launched fundraisers to support our training programmes, with the ultimate goal of building a stronger, more stable future for those we serve.

In 2024, our plans shifted dramatically. We were thrilled about the venue opportunity which had a good kitchen and a spacious front of house sitting 24 people. For many of our chefs, the café wasn’t just a place of work, but a vital source of routine, training, income and confidence. In the 30th April 2024 our Café closed after an 8 month pilot and its closure was deeply felt across our team and wider community. In May 2024, we looked for new opportunities. Despite the excitement around launching pop-ups and community dinners from our base

Our plans for 2025

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30
5
Minimum number of refugees trained
in the Introduction to Working in the Minimum number of trainee work
Secure our venue to open a café run Hospitality Sector course placements in supporting a local café
by local refugees
Minimum number of new
chefs securing employment in the Secure funds to employ a full-time Recruit a professional chef to our
catering sector [3] Café Manager/Trainer advisory board
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----- Start of picture text -----
2
Establish and maintain at least two Maintain existing residencies and
new partnerships with corporates create residencies in new locations
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2
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Recruit two new refugees to our board
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In 2025, our priority is to secure a permanent venue to open our community café, run by local refugees. This space will not only serve delicious food but also act as a hub for training, events and community support. From this space, we plan to deliver our Introduction to Working in the Hospitality Sector course to at least 30 refugees, helping them build the confidence and skills needed to thrive in the industry. Following this training, we aim to secure at least five work placements in supportive local cafés and empower a minimum of three of our new chefs to move into employment in the catering sector. To support this growth, we’re actively working to raise funds to hire a full-time Café Manager and Trainer, who will provide consistent guidance and mentorship to our chefs.

To ensure our work continues to grow in impact, we’re strengthening our foundations. We aim to recruit a professional chef to join our advisory board, bringing valuable industry expertise, and we plan to welcome two new refugees onto our board to ensure lived experience continues to shape everything we do. We’ll also focus on building new relationships by establishing at least two new partnerships with corporate supporters while maintaining and expanding our partnerships and frequent event spaces across London. With the right support, 2025 will be an exciting year for Plateful Café as we move closer to our vision of a community where refugees can flourish through employment and belonging.

A call for support

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With the closure of our café, we’re now searching for a new home to continue and grow our work. A new space will allow us to expand training, host more events, and support even more refugees in our community.

Any support is appreciated! You can donate, volunteer or get our delicious products here

Know a refugee - or are one - seeking support?

Contact us here

) !) e4.+ Al

plateful 00000 @ Plateful Café 2025

PLATEFUL CAFE (Charity number: 1202710)

Financial Statements for the 12 month period ending on 30 April 2025

Table of Content:

Statement of financial activities (including the income and expenditure account).................................. 2 Statement of financial position………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 Notes to the financial statements………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

1

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDING 30 APRIL 2025

Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Total Total
Note 2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Income and
Endowments:
Donations 753 2,670 5,873 34,877 6,626 37,547
Charitable 19,293 31,436 2,522 - 21,815 31,436
Activities
Total Income 20,046 34,106 8,395 34,877 28,441 68,983
Expenditure:
Charitable 2 14,909 15,437 12,235 28,937 27,144 45,374
Activities
Total 14,909 15,437 12,235 28,937 27,144 45,374
Expenditure
Net 5,137 18,669 -3,840 4,940 1,297 23,609
Income/Expe
nditure
Total Funds
brought 18,699 - 4,940 - 23,609 -
forward
Total Funds 23,806 18,669 1,100 4,940 24,906 23,609
carried
forward

2

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30thApril 2025 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30thApril 2025 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30thApril 2025
Note 2025 2024
£ £
FIXED ASSETS
 4 85 108
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash at Bank & In Hand 25,021 23,501
NET CURRENT ASSETS 25,021 23,501
Accrued liabilities -200 -
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 24,906 23,609
FUNDS
Restricted Funds
5 & 6		 1,100
 4,940
Unrestricted Funds
 5 & 6 23,806
 18,669
24,906 23,609
TOTAL FUNDS 24,906 23,609

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 20 July 2025, and were signed below on their behalf by:

Enxhi Lami

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The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

Preparation of the accounts as a going concern: Having reviewed the funding facilities available to the charity together with the expected future cash flows, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that charity has adequate resources to continue its activities for the foreseeable future and consider that there were no material uncertainties over the charity's financial viability. Accordingly, they also continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

b. Income: All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably, and it is probable that the income will be received. The SORP requirements are followed in relation to positions where there is a time restriction.

For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained, then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity, and it is probable that they will be fulfilled. Gift Aid receivable on donations is recognised as unrestricted income.

No amount is included in the financial statements for general volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102).

c. Donated services and facilities: Donated facilities and donated professional services are recognised in income at their fair value when their economic benefit is probable, it can be measured reliably, and the charity has control over the item. Fair value is determined based on the value of the gift to the charity. For example, the amount the charity would be willing to pay in the open market for such facilities and services. A corresponding amount is recognised in expenditure.

Gifts in kind donated for resale are included at fair value, being the expected proceeds from sale less the expected costs of sale. Where estimating the fair value is practicable upon receipt it is recognised in stock and ‘Income from other trading activities’. Upon sale, the value of the stock is charged against ‘Income from other trading activities’ and the proceeds are recognised as ‘Income from other trading activities’. Where it is impracticable to fair value the items due to the volume of low value items they are not recognised in the financial statements until they are sold. This income is recognised within ‘Income from other trading activities’.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for

4

particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Costs of charitable activities include costs directly associated with delivering the charity's objectives and an apportionment of overhead, support, and governance costs.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as an expense against the activity for which expenditure arose.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affected current and future periods. There are no estimates or judgements which the Trustees consider are subject to significant uncertainty.

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a systematic basis over its expected useful life as follows: Kitchen equipment.

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2 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Staff Cost Direct Support Total
£ £ £ £
2024
Charitable activities 12,522 30,834 2,018 45,374
2025 401
25,200		 1,543 27,144

Included under Support costs are governance costs of £112 in 2025 (in 2024 £300).

3 STAFF COSTS AND KEY PERSONNEL

No remuneration was paid to trustees during the year. Expenses reimbursed to them in their capacity as trustees

amounted to £Nil. The staff costs of remaining staff were:

2025 2024
£ £
Wages and Salaries 401 12,522

During the year no staff were paid more than £60,000. The charity employed 1 staff with a total full time equivalent of 0.1FTE (in 2024 0.5 FTE)

4 FIXED ASSETS

Assets at cost
Balance at 1 December
Additions
Balance at 30 April
Accumulated depreciation
Balance at 1 December
Depreciation for the year
Balance at 30 April
Net book value		 Kitchen
Equipment
2025
£
Kitchen
Equipment
2024
£
155
-
-
155
155
155
47
-
23
47
70
47
85
108

6

5 FUNDS

2024

2024
Balance Incoming Balance
B/F Resources Expenditure C/F
£ £ £ £
Restricted funds
Training & Development Grant - 15,777 12,415 3,362
Founder Grant - 8,100 4,000 4,100
Ingredient Grant - 1,000 1,000 -
Manager Salary Grant - 10,000 12,522 -2,522
- 34,877 29,937 4,940
General reserves - 34,106 15,437 18,669
Total reserves - 68,983 45,374 23,609

The Total Reserves figures for 2024 for Incoming Resources, Expenditure and Balance is different as the ‘Grants for Ingredients’ was not included in this calculation. 2025

Restricted funds
Training & Development Grant
Manager Salary Grant
Founder Grant
Ingredient Grant
Workshop Grant
LBL Refugee Week Community meal Grant
General reserves
Total reserves		 Balance
Incoming
Balance
B/F
Resources
Expenditure
C/F
£
£
£
£
3,362
-
3,362
-
-2,5222,522
-
-
4,100
-
3,000
1,100
-
3,000
3,000
-
-
1,373
1,373
-
-
1,500
1,500
-
4,940
8,395
12,235
1,100
18,669
20,046
14,909
23,806
23,609
28,441
27,144
24,906

During the year the charity received funding from the Lottery fund for its shop (2025: £nil).

6 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Fixed Fixed Net Net Total Total
Assets Assets Current Current
Assets Assets
2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Restricted funds - - 1,100 4,940 1,100 4,940
Unrestricted funds 85 108 23,721 18,561 23,806 18,669
85 108 24,821 23,501 24,906 23,609

The 2024 Net Current Asset figure has been amended to include the £1000 of the Ingredient Grant which has brought the total to £23,609 compared to £22,609.

7 TAXATION

The company is a registered charity and no provision is considered necessary for taxation.

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Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees
On accounts for the year
ended
Responsibilities and
basis of report		 Charity Name
Plateful Café		 Charity Name
Plateful Café		 Charity Name
Plateful Café
30 April 2025 Charity no
(if any)		 1202710
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30 April 2025.
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
(“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Date: 26 September 2025 Signed: Name: John Axon Relevant professional FCMA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 85 Montbelle Road London SE9 3NY

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Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

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