From Iraq to Sheffield: How One Man’s Journey Gave Birth to a Kitchen That Feeds Hearts Before the Meal Begins
In a world where displacement, loneliness, and food insecurity are becoming everyday realities for many, stories like this remind us of the power of compassion and of food to bring people together.
Open Kitchen Social Club *CIO* (OKSC) is one such story. It is not just a place where meals are served; it is a space where dignity is restored, skills are shared, and strangers become a community.
At the heart of this initiative is Firas , a man originally from Iraq, who arrived in the UK in 2008 carrying with him the experiences of migration, resilience, and a deep understanding of what it means to start again in a new country. Years later, in Sheffield, those experiences would shape a project that now feeds hundreds of people completely free of charge.
A Kitchen Open to Everyone
Open Kitchen Social Club is a registered charity that uses surplus food donations to provide free meals, skills training, and a welcoming social environment for the local community. What makes OKSC truly special is its philosophy: everyone is welcome, regardless of background, immigration status, faith, or financial situation and no one ever has to pay.
Food, at OKSC, is not charity in the traditional sense. It is a shared experience. People eat together, talk together, and learn together. The aim is not only to reduce food waste, but also to reduce isolation, build confidence, and create opportunities for people who are often left on the margins of society.
From Personal Experience to Collective Action
Firas’s journey in the UK began long before OKSC existed. After settling in Sheffield in 2008, he became involved with Learn for Life Enterprise, where he met Katelyn Mckeown and worked closely with refugees and asylum seekers. This led to the formation of the RASAG Refugee and Asylum Seeker Action Group, which initially focused on storytelling projects funded by a European organisation.
These storytelling sessions, held at festivals and community events, were powerful. They gave people a voice and they revealed something important: when people gather around shared experiences, real connections form. From there, the idea naturally evolved. What if storytelling, community, and connection could happen around food?
That question became the seed of Open Kitchen Social Club.
Growing Beyond the Kitchen
What started as a simple idea quickly grew into something much bigger. Today, OKSC runs multiple sessions across different locations, serving between 70 and 100 people per session. The organisation also caters for events, using the income to cover running costs and sustain its free community services.
The people who walk through OKSC’s doors are diverse: newly arrived refugees, families, local residents, homeless individuals, and volunteers from all walks of life. Some come for a meal. Others come to learn. Many come because it feels safe.
Beyond food, OKSC offers ESOL classes, digital skills sessions, and food hygiene training, including Level 2 certification. Volunteers are encouraged to develop responsibility, reliability, and confidence — qualities that help them move closer to employment and independence.
A Safe Space in Difficult Times
Like the communities it serves, OKSC has faced its share of challenges from language barriers and cultural differences to moments of crisis, including continuing its work during difficult periods such as the Sheffield far-right protest. Yet the organisation has adapted, always prioritising safety, inclusion, and respect.
English is gently encouraged as a shared language, not as a barrier but as a bridge. People are supported, not judged. Even individuals experiencing homelessness have found not only meals at OKSC, but purpose, skills, and a sense of belonging.
More Than a Meal
Perhaps the most powerful measure of OKSC’s impact lies in the stories. A volunteer from Nicaragua who gained confidence and went on to employment. A homeless man who found routine, responsibility, and community. Countless individuals who arrived feeling invisible and left feeling seen.
Cultural and social activities play a big role in this transformation. OKSC organises trips, art sessions, and celebrations of Christmas, Eid, Diwali, and more not as symbolic gestures, but as genuine expressions of inclusion.
Looking Ahead
Firas’s vision for the future is clear: securing a permanent premises for OKSC and expanding its skills programme to include financial capability and advanced digital training. His goal is not dependency, but empowerment helping people build sustainable, independent lives.
From Iraq to Sheffield, from displacement to community leadership, Firas’s story is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful change begins with something simple: an open door, a shared meal, and the belief that everyone deserves a place at the table.
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