Celebrations are underway at Hackney Foodbank after a two-year campaign for better food in asylum hotels finally saw change happen.

Consistently, asylum seekers were claiming that the food they were being served was too salty, too spicy, lacking in vegetables and that the portions were too small. Hungry, and with no cooking facilities and very little money, they turned to Hackney Foodbank for help.

Since 2023, as well as calling directly on the hotels to improve, the food bank has been working with Hackney Council, Citizens UK, Migrants Organise and the Migrants Rights Network to exert pressure.

This May their campaign reached the very highest levels of government, when Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited Hackney Foodbank and was presented with a photo diary of meals being served in asylum hotels. The issue was also raised with local MP Meg Hillier.

Farhan Jaisin, Community Change Manager at Hackney Foodbank, said: “Finally in June, the Home Office carried out an audit of the quality of food in asylum hotels in Hackney. Since then, we’ve seen a marked improvement in the quality of food served. Residents are telling us the portions are bigger, the food is tastier and that, for the first time in a long time, they’re being served cooked vegetables.

“Having access to enough nutritious food is so important to wellbeing and healthy development so it’s a real relief to see things improving for asylum seekers living in Hackney.”

Asylum seekers living in hotels here don’t have access to cooking facilities, beyond a kettle and their weekly allowance is just £8.86 a week per person.

Asylum food improving after campaign

London on a shoestring