Kitchen Community Collective aims to help Turkish-speaking women adapt to Stoke Newington through their food events and mentoring workshops
A local community group has been set up to help immigrant women settle into the Stoke Newington area.
Kitchen Community Collective (KCC) was established a month ago to help Turkish-speaking women get support in adapting to life in the UK.
The group aims to “celebrate diversity and empower each other through cooking, learning, and collaboration” according to it’s co-founder Deniz Erkan, who moved to London ten years ago and is now a social worker.
Erkan has developed programmes with her co-founder, chef Nazli Celik Metin, where women can get mentorship and career counselling, as well as learn new skills in nutrition, entrepreneurship, and community leadership.
“There has been a Turkish community in Stoke Newington since the Eighties,” says Erkan. “Immigrant women and girls often face unique challenges when settling into a new community, including language barriers, cultural adjustment, and limited access to resources.
“The Kitchen Community Collective provides a safe and welcoming environment where they can connect with others who share similar experiences, build confidence, and gain valuable skills that can enhance their integration and well-being.”
The group held their first event last week at restaurant Schnitzel Forever serving traditional Turkish food cooked by members of the KCC and will be hosting their next walk-in event at music café Db Music in Stoke Newington on 27 March.
The pop-up event will serve a range of dishes and is raising money for the KCC to support their members.
Erkan explains how food plays a central role in immigrant women’s culture: “[It’s] a conduit for connection, celebration, and identity. We celebrate the rich tapestry of culinary traditions that immigrants bring with them, recognising that food is a means of preserving heritage, sharing stories, and fostering unity.
“By sharing recipes, cooking techniques, and cultural practices, we honour the diversity of our members’ backgrounds and create opportunities for cultural exchange and understanding of their needs.”
Erkan is planning for the KCC to be able to host more pop-ups and offer catering services to those who want to taste Turkish food at their parties or events.
Follow the Kitchen Community Collective’s Instagram account for more details on their event on 27 March.
