A Taste of Home: Maysoon’s Journey from Sudan to Building Nubian Delights in London When Maysoon Mohammed talks about food, she isn’t simply talking about recipes. She’s talking about family. She’s talking about culture. She’s talking about belonging. And through every cake, biscuit, and traditional Sudanese dessert she creates, she’s sharing a piece of her story. Growing Up Between Cultures and Kitchens Maysoon comes from the Nubian community in Sudan, where food is at the heart of family life. “My father was an agricultural engineer,” she explains. “Because of his work, we moved to different cities across Sudan every four or five years.” Those moves exposed her to the rich diversity of Sudan’s regions, each with its own traditions, flavours, and culinary heritage. But it was in her grandmother’s kitchen that Maysoon’s lifelong passion began. “I started learning to bake when I was about ten years old. My grandmother taught me everything. At first I helped knead dough and shape pastries, and by the age of fifteen I could cook most traditional Sudanese dishes on my own.” More importantly, her grandmother taught her something that has stayed with her ever since: “Cooking isn’t just about following a recipe. It’s about sharing love.” Starting Again in a New Country Like many refugee and migrant families, Maysoon and her husband made the difficult decision to leave Sudan and build a new life in the UK. “We wanted our children to have a stable future and access to good educational opportunities.” It meant leaving behind family, friends, and the support network they had always known. “It wasn’t easy. In Sudan, you’re never really alone. Family and neighbours are always around. When we arrived in the UK, everything felt very different.” One of the biggest challenges was language. “Although I had a good education, I wasn’t confident speaking English, and that made finding work difficult.” Adjusting to a new culture, different weather, and life far from family brought additional challenges. But Maysoon was determined to create opportunities for herself and her family. Slowly, she began building confidence by improving her English, attending courses, meeting new people, and becoming involved in community organisations. Food as a Connection to Home For Maysoon, food remains one of the strongest connections to her heritage. “In Sudan, meals are about much more than eating.” She fondly remembers gathering every afternoon with family around the table to share the day’s main meal, discussing plans, sharing stories, and spending time together. Later in the evening came another cherished ritual: milk tea served with traditional treats such as Lugaimat and homemade biscuits. “Relatives and neighbours would often join us. There was always conversation, laughter, and a feeling of togetherness.” These memories continue to inspire her cooking today. Turning Passion into a Business Wanting to preserve her family’s traditions and introduce Sudanese culture to new audiences, Maysoon founded Nubian Delights. What began as a way to share traditional Sudanese baking has grown into a thriving business. She started by creating authentic favourites including Kahak, Petit Four, Basbousa, Kunafa, and Bastah. As demand grew, so did her range. Today, alongside traditional Sudanese desserts, Maysoon also creates beautiful celebration cakes, cupcakes, and bespoke baked goods while remaining firmly rooted in her heritage. Every order tells a story. Every bake celebrates culture. Every customer experiences a small taste of Sudan. Passing Culture to the Next Generation Despite building a new life in the UK, Maysoon is passionate about ensuring her children remain connected to their Sudanese roots. “Food helps my children understand where they come from.” Traditional meals are a regular feature of family celebrations, and her children often take Sudanese dishes to school International Days to share their culture with classmates. “It’s something they’re proud of, and that makes me very happy.” Through Nubian Delights, Maysoon is also helping others discover Sudanese food for the very first time. Finding Confidence Through Plateful Café When Maysoon discovered Plateful Café, she immediately felt she had found a place where her skills and experience would be valued. “What stood out to me was that they don’t focus on the barriers people face. They recognise the skills and experiences we already have.” Through Plateful Café, Maysoon completed training in cake decorating, hospitality, cooking classes, and cooking with children. The experience helped her develop new skills, grow her confidence, and strengthen her business. “Plateful Café also gave me opportunities to promote Nubian Delights and introduce more people to Sudanese baking.” Today, her business continues to grow, reaching new customers and expanding its offerings while remaining true to its roots. More Than Food When asked what she loves most about Sudan, Maysoon doesn’t hesitate. “The people.” “No matter what challenges Sudan faces, people support one another. Neighbours are like family, homes are always open, and everyone is willing to help.” That same spirit of generosity and hospitality is reflected in everything she creates. Whether she’s baking traditional Nubian treats, preparing celebration cakes, or sharing recipes with others, Maysoon continues to build bridges between cultures through food. Her journey is a powerful reminder that refugee entrepreneurs bring not only resilience and determination, but also skills, traditions, creativity, and culture that enrich our communities. And through Nubian Delights, Maysoon is ensuring that a treasured piece of Sudan continues to flourish in London. Discover More To learn more about the work of Plateful Café and how we support refugee chefs and entrepreneurs to build skills, confidence and careers through food, visit our website. You can also follow Maysoon’s baking journey through Nubian Delights, where traditional Sudanese baking meets beautiful celebration cakes, cupcakes and desserts. Instagram: @nubiandelightslondon
For founder Iolanda Chirico, food has always been about more than what is on the plate. Food creates community. Food represents support, family, and security. It is this belief that inspired Iolanda to launch Plateful Café, a charity that gives refugees the opportunity to build their lives through food. By providing training, employment opportunities and a welcoming community, Plateful Cafe helps people establish roots in the UK after being forced to flee their homes. “I’m a great believer in the power of food to bring people together and break down barriers. We all like to eat good food. When we eat together, we forget where we come from.” Plateful Café became a registered charity in 2023. Today, the charity delivers an eight-week Introduction to Hospitality programme, community dinners, catering services and pop-up events across London. Alongside practical hospitality training, participants gain confidence, improve their English language skills, build professional networks and gain the experience needed to secure employment. “Employment opens so many doors. If you’re stuck at home doing nothing, you feel rejected and alienated. We’re trying to provide opportunities so people can become active again, support themselves and make a contribution to society.” The impact of that work can be seen in the stories of the refugees Plateful Café supports. One recent participant, a refugee from Sudan, completed the charity’s training programme before securing two part-time roles, one as a cooking demonstrator and another as a cupcake decorator. She has also established her own catering business, Nubian Delights, creating bespoke cakes and catering for local events. More broadly, many of the refugees trained through Plateful Café have gone on to secure part-time and full-time employment in the hospitality sector. After completing the training programme, participants can continue working with Plateful Café as paid chefs, receiving the London Living Wage while catering events and building their experience. “It’s very important that people understand refugees are here because they were forced to flee persecution and war. All they want is the opportunity to rebuild their lives, support their families and make a contribution.” After becoming a charity, Plateful Café operated its own café for nine months before losing its venue. Determined to continue supporting refugees, the organisation spent months searching for a new home before securing a base at Blackfriars Settlement in central London earlier this year. The new space offered an exciting opportunity to restart and expand the charity’s work, but it also brought a new challenge. As part of the arrangement, Plateful Café was provided with a draft partnership agreement governing the use of the building and commercial kitchen space. As a growing charity without access to in-house legal expertise, Iolanda wanted reassurance that the agreement was fair, workable and protected the charity’s interests. Having previously received support through LawWorks in her work with other refugee charities, Iolanda knew exactly where to turn. “I’ve been using LawWorks for a number of years and the service has always been excellent, and this time was no different. The speed of the response was amazing. A law firm was found within days.” Through LawWorks’ Not-for-Profits Programme, Plateful Café was matched with pro bono solicitors at Milbank LLP, who reviewed the agreement and helped the charity move forward with confidence. The agreement was particularly important because the premises are shared with other organisations, making clarity around access to the space, use of the commercial kitchen and each party’s responsibilities essential. “I had never dealt with a partnership agreement before. I didn’t know what clauses should be included or how the document should be structured. The lawyers helped put everything together beautifully.” Securing the space has already transformed what Plateful Café is able to achieve. Shortly after moving into Blackfriars Settlement, the charity successfully secured funding to relaunch its training programme and expand its activities. Access to a free commercial kitchen in central London has provided a foundation for future growth and allowed the organisation to focus on supporting more refugees into employment. “Thank you, securing this space has opened so many doors for us.” This Refugee Week, LawWorks is proud to support charities like Plateful Café through our Not-for-Profits Programme. By connecting charities with free legal support, we help organisations focus on what they do best, changing lives and strengthening communities. There are many ways to support access to justice through LawWorks. By volunteering your time or making a donation, you can help charities like Plateful Café continue their vital work. LinekdIn- Opening doors through food: Plateful Café
For Refugee Week 2026, we are celebrating the theme of Courage by sharing the story of our new Chef Trainer, Ismail Almatheab. Today, Ismail leads hospitality training at Plateful Café, helping refugees and other learners build skills, confidence and pathways into employment. But the journey that brought him here is one of extraordinary resilience, determination and courage. Growing up in Syria, Ismail discovered his passion for food while working in his family’s bakery, producing traditional Syrian breads, pastries and sweets. Alongside his work, he studied English Literature at Damascus University and built experience in professional kitchens and hotels across the country. In 2011, everything changed. As conflict engulfed Syria, Ismail’s future became increasingly uncertain. In 2014, he made the heartbreaking decision to leave his home, family, career and the life he had built behind. Like millions of Syrians, he was forced to seek safety elsewhere. After arriving in the UK in 2015, Ismail faced the daunting challenge of starting again from nothing. He had professional skills, experience and ambition, but no UK references, limited English and little understanding of how to navigate a completely new system. Finding work proved incredibly difficult. Despite countless applications and interviews, opportunities were repeatedly out of reach. Many people would have given up. Instead, Ismail persevered. He studied English, attended training courses, travelled across towns and cities for interviews and accepted whatever work he could find. He worked long hours carrying out demanding kitchen tasks while continuing to search for better opportunities. He moved from Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham, then to Cambridge and eventually London, following every lead that might help him build a future. Each setback became another reason to keep going. Over the years, Ismail worked in restaurants across the country, steadily building his experience and reputation. Through determination and hard work, he transformed the uncertainty of his early years in the UK into a successful career in hospitality. Even after securing professional roles in respected restaurants, Ismail continued investing in himself. He completed Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas in Culinary Skills and later pursued an Advanced Diploma in Artisan Baking at the prestigious School of Artisan Food. His commitment to learning reflects a belief that growth never stops, no matter how many obstacles stand in the way. The COVID-19 pandemic brought fresh challenges, as it did for many hospitality workers. Yet once again, Ismail adapted. During this difficult period, he became involved in community food projects, using his skills to support others and maintain the sense of connection that food creates. Today, Ismail has come full circle. As Plateful Café’s first full-time Chef Trainer, he now supports refugees and other learners who are beginning journeys of their own. He understands the challenges they face because he has lived them himself. Through practical hospitality training, mentoring and encouragement, he helps others develop not only kitchen skills but also confidence, independence and hope for the future. Ismail’s story is a powerful reminder that courage is not a single act. It is the determination to keep moving forward when the path ahead is uncertain. It is rebuilding your life after loss. It is refusing to give up when doors close. And it is using your experiences to help others succeed. This Refugee Week, we celebrate Ismail’s courage — and the courage of all refugees who continue to rebuild, contribute and enrich our communities every day. About Refugee Week The word courage comes from the Latin cor, meaning “heart.” Inspired by the lives and experiences of people seeking sanctuary, Refugee Week 2026 invites us to explore the theme of Courage. For refugees around the world, courage is often a daily necessity. It is the courage to face unknown journeys, learn new languages, navigate unfamiliar systems, or simply to wake up each morning and step into an uncertain world. At a time when some seek to divide and blame, Refugee Week 2026 calls us to come together and share the courage to welcome, to stand for what we believe in, and to celebrate culture and community – to be joyful, imagine new possibilities, dream, heal, and connect. Courage isn’t always loud or bold. It can be found in simple acts: opening your door to a neighbour, trying new food, reading a book, or watching a film that changes your view of the world. It can be speaking up, asking for help, sharing your story – or simply having the courage to be yourself. Through art, stories, and community, we celebrate the courage that lives within us all – and how connection helps it grow. Join us for Refugee Week 2026, 15–21 June 2026 To see a full list of other events taking place throughout Refugee Week, visit the Refugee Week Website Refugee Week 2026 marks 75 years since the Refugee Convention – a landmark agreement affirming that those forced to flee deserve protection, dignity, and hope. For 75 years, it has provided the legal foundation that has saved millions of lives. #RefugeeWeek #SimpleActs #Courage
