Calais Food Collective - Calais, France (CDD)
Calais Food Collective work to support displaced people in Calais and Northern France by addressing critical levels of water and food insecurity, whilst simultaneously advocating for the fundamental human rights of the people they support.
Calais, on the northern tip of France, remains a harsh borderland for refugees hoping to seek asylum in the UK. After the demolition of the ‘Jungle’ camp in 2016, the situation has only worsened, with 1,500 to 3,500 people now living in makeshift shelters made from flimsy tents and plastic sheets, hidden in small encampments, under constant threat from the state. The French state enforces a ‘zero fixation point’ policy, employing violent evictions every 48 hours and systematically destroying shelters, clothing, and personal belongings. State support is minimal and frequently unreliable, leaving people reliant on grassroots NGOs for basic essentials such as food and water.
More than 80% of water and the majority of meals now come from voluntary organisations (notably Calais Food Collective). Harassment and intimidation from daily police evictions and, increasingly, far-right groups add to the stress of daily life. Transit through Calais typically lasts three months, but the most vulnerable groups (including women, families, unaccompanied minors, and young people without resources) face longer stays. This means increased exposure to extreme weather and state violence.
Calais Food Collective stands in solidarity with displaced individuals, challenging state violence and providing essential support where the state falls short. They are committed to resisting injustice and treating people with dignity until real change is achieved.
Specifically, CFC provide clean drinking water (over 2 million litres in 2025), ingredients and cooking equipment (enough for 50,000 meals in 2025) and help facilitate community litter picks every weekend. They also engage in a wide variety of advocacy projects, working towards challenging the injustices faced by people on the move in Calais through report writing, legal cases, facilitating parliamentary visits and more. Their support is currently accessed by around 20,000 people every year.
They are an entirely volunteer run organisation working to address serious injustices and hardships which occur just 35km from the UK. Their funding situation has gotten increasingly difficult in recent years, and in aid of their most urgent need, LYT has given a CDD of £5,000 in July of 2026 toward food supplies through September 2026 - February 2027.
Please read more about their life saving work here: https://www.calaisfoodcollective.org
