During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, I was one of over 100 chefs who contributed a recipe to Community Comfort: Recipes From The Diaspora, an evocative compilation of recipes from around the world that provided financial support to BAME families in the UK affected by Covid-19. Conceived by cook and activist Riaz Phillips, the project emerged in response to the profound and uneven impact of the pandemic on marginalised communities.

Covid-19 disproportionately affected people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. Research and public health reporting at the time highlighted stark disparities in Covid-19 outcomes, with Black communities and South Asian women facing significantly higher mortality rates. A leaked section of an official Public Health England inquiry concluded that structural racism contributed to some of the inequalities observed in coronavirus deaths in the UK.

All proceeds from Community Comfort supported the Majonzi Covid-19 Bereavement Fund, launched by Windrush campaigner Patrick Vernon OBE, which helped families cover costs ranging from memorial services to grief counselling. By contributing a recipe, I took part in a collective act of care and resistance, using food as a means of solidarity, remembrance, and practical support during a period of widespread loss.