Why I like working at Ben’s Centre - Rui, Ben’s Centre Chef

When I first started working at Ben’s Centre, I had never worked within the charity sector.

In my two and a half years here, I have learned a lot about human interaction and basic needs. Though as the chef my job is to provide nutritious and healthy food, I try to do this while providing a mix of meals that clients are used to and that remind them of home or childhood, while also introducing new flavours and habits. In my time here, because of the trust created, people eat more diverse food; salad as a side is often on the menu now, whereas when I started it was not appreciated.

This trust was fostered by using some core counselling skills (being congruent alongside the use of empathy and unconditional positive regard), as well as working in an open kitchen where clients know they can come and talk with me, and also the fact they know I do the best I can every day to provide nice food.

Even though, due to the budget, the food has to be well managed to be enough for 30 potential clients, I always go out of my way to make sure clients who are new to the street, who look scared, or who tell me they are starving get as much as possible and as much as they want when coming for seconds. There have been times when I felt my interaction, alongside my colleagues’, helped a new client feel safer in their unfortunate situation and at least feel “at home” and in a friendly environment while here. There was one client I particularly remember because he looked so frightened when I first saw him, and I made sure to tell him, “How much food do you want? If there is anything I can do for you, always feel free to tell me.” Even though he is no longer a regular client, this interaction created trust and respect between us. I want clients to always feel comfortable coming to talk with me.

It is not very easy to implement because we never know who comes to the Centre daily, but if a client asks me for something they would like on the menu, if the budget allows it, I try to cook it as soon as possible.

One of my favourite reasons for enjoying working at Ben’s Centre is the fact that I am making people’s days better by serving food with a warm smile on my face, and how kind our clients are with me and towards my work. Being from a different culture, if it wasn’t for the massive grin, I would have been mortified when I was told the lunch was “the dog’s bollocks”, but it turned out to be the most memorable of the many compliments I hear at Ben’s Centre daily.

I believe there is a massive correlation between mental health and having basic needs fulfilled, and this is what motivates me to always do my best for our clients at Ben’s Centre. I can only wish there were more places like ours (for people with all kinds of needs).