From donating a fridge to starting a restaurant

When Rob delivered a fridge to a Syrian refugee family eight years ago, he was completely unaware of the positive impact it would have on his social, family and professional life. As he became more involved with the refugee community in York, he realised they had much to offer but little opportunity to do so.

Rob began working on a gardening project with refugees. This led him to a weekly drop-in where he was introduced to Refugee Council. The venue for the drop in was tough for many refugees to get to involving lots of buses. Rob offered his church in the centre of town as an alternative and the drop-in is still hosted there today, years later. Rob’s journey of friendship and work with local refugees in York.

Their generosity made me realise that they were a group of people with a lot to give society but little opportunity to give it.

Two chefs are working in a kitchen. One chef, wearing glasses and a black chef's coat, is carefully plating a dish with a bowl of food. The other chef, with a shaved head, is standing nearby, observing the process.

Rob witnessed and experienced tremendous generosity by the families they were working with and a big eagerness to share, especially around the meal table. Rob said: “Their generosity made me realise that they were a group of people with a lot to give society but little opportunity to give it. They got homes, their kids got to go to school, they got to learn English but they didn’t get to share with society what was unique to them.”

Keen to take things further Rob teamed up with Refugee Council. Together they applied for funding from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation so they could start a pop-up restaurant staffed by refugees. They bought key equipment, trained ten staff, found a venue and then were up and running.

The things I noticed most from those evenings was the difference it made to give people that opportunity and the sense of achievement it gave them. The most profound thing was much deeper than achievement, it was about the dignity and how it was starting to be restored.
- Rob

A speaker stands in front of a seated audience in a well-lit venue, engaging with them during a gathering. Tables are set with plates and drinks, indicating a meal is being served.

Rob now runs Yahala Mataam [which means Welcome Restaurant], a social enterprise that works with refugees and people seeking asylum. It aims to provide opportunities, build confidence, improve people’s English and restore dignity. Alongside the successful pop-up nights, they have a street food stand, catering business and cookery school. They also hold charity fundraisers for other local organisations.

In lockdown we’d sometimes have Syrian families around to our garden and it’s been good for my kids to learn about that culture. It’s definitely changed us as people.

Yahala Mataam has trained refugees now living in York, originally from countries as diverse as Afghanistan Iran, Syria, Ukraine, Guinea and Eritrea. Rob says, “We’re growing bit by bit. The son of the first Syrian man I met when we gave him the fridge now works with me so it’s almost come full circle, he was just a boy when he first arrived, now he is 17 and able to work with us.”

Rob’s life has also been positively impacted in other ways. He explains, “The dynamic of our family has completely changed, we don’t go a day without seeing refugees. I have an 18-month-old daughter and most of her friends are not British, they’re from Afghanistan and Ukraine.

“I remember when she was born our Syrian friends turned up with so many gifts and treats and cakes which was so nice. In lockdown we’d sometimes have Syrian families around to our garden and it’s been good for my kids to learn about that culture. It’s definitely changed us as people.” ◆

Rob's journey is just one of many inspiring stories from across the nation. We have seen first-hand how communities are made stronger when we come together. If you'd like to support us in our work, please consider donating today.