Just Bread - Refugee Council

Just Bread

Based in a busy East London bakery, Just Bread is a 12-week training programme for refugee women who want to connect with others and learn new baking skills as a possible route towards employment.

Just Bread is a partnership between the Refugee Council and E5 Bakehouse in Hackney, London. We bring refugees together to share their creativity and cultural heritage while acquiring the skills of a professional baker.

The project supports the emotional needs of refugee women by helping them rebuild their self-esteem and develop job search skills to move into employment.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to help her put her natural gift for breadmaking to work? And wouldn’t it be nice if there were a bakery where refugee women could bake bread, improve their English, gain confidence and develop their employability skills?” Liz Siena Just Bread co-founder

The programme comprises a 14-week course that teach the basics involved in running a bakery, while encouraging participants to contribute recipes and techniques they have brought with them from their home countries.

In this way, women learn new vocational skills as well as the kind of social skills that will help them overcome barriers to employment.

Participants learn about established bread making techniques in this country and explore the skills and experience they gained in their home countries. Similarities and differences in ingredients, equipment and baking methods are explored and experimentation encouraged!


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If you’re a refugee are are interested in taking part in Just Bread, find out more below.


The project is part-funded through the European Union Asylum Migration Integration Fund. Making management of migration flows more efficient across the European Union.