Celebrity chefs at the Five for Ukraine event in support of Action Against Hunger and the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Celebrity chefs raise over £70,000 for the DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Six of the UK’s most respected and well-known chefs came together to raise over £70,000 to support the work of the DEC.

By Action Against Hunger

14 March 2022

Six of the UK’s most well respected and recognisable chefs have raised over £70k through a charity dinner and auction in aid of the DEC’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

The event ‘Five for Ukraine’ saw award-winning chefs joining forces to lay on a sumptuous five-course banquet at Barboun, Shoreditch on Monday 7 March. At the dinner, they launched a week-long auction which closed on Sunday 13 March, raising an astonishing £70,000. The money raised from will go towards providing critical food, water and medical assistance to refugees fleeing the crisis.

Taking part in the one-off special event – and promoting the auction online – were Nieves Barragan (Sabor), Lisa Allen (Northcote), Tom Kerridge (Kerridge’s Bar & Grill), Angela Hartnett OBE (Murano), Neil Borthwick (The French House), and Ed Wilson (Brawn). Please find their bios in notes to editors.

Commenting on why she decided to take part, Angela Hartnett OBE said:

“It is impossible to witness the harrowing images on TV and not be moved to want to do try and do something. It has been incredibly heart-warming to see how the British public have rallied in support of Ukraine, and, like a lot of people, we just wanted to do our bit.  

 “I think it is fair to say that one thing chefs do very well is cook, and because many of us have been fundraising with Action Against Hunger for many years, we know that we can apply these skills to help raise much-needed funds. 

 The money we raised on the night and through the auction will support refugees fleeing from Ukraine who are facing unimaginable hardship, and will go towards providing much needed food, water and medical assistance.” 

The online auction offered a range of prizes including: a two night stay at Nathan Outlaw’s new guesthouse, including meals at both of his restaurants; two tickets to Robin Gill’s critically acclaimed Bloodshot Supper Club; overnight stay for four plus dinner at the 5* Limewood Hotel; membership for two at Quo Vadis private members club; and dinner and a stay at the 5* Stafford Hotel.

Another well-known restaurant which is getting behind the DEC appeal is Hawksmoor. Will Beckett and Huw Gott, the founders of the restaurant chain, have been long term supporters of Action Against Hunger, a DEC member agency, and have raised more than £1.5 million for the charity to date.

In order to support the DEC’s Ukraine Humanitarian appeal, Hawksmoor donated a percentage from the sales of their incredibly popular ambassador dessert and their Shaky Pete’s Ginger Brew cocktail. All the money raised through purchases of these items was then match funded by the restaurant. Alongside this ongoing fundraising effort, the restaurant has also donated £10,000 to the appeal.

Contact our Media team

For more information or to arrange an interview with an Action Against Hunger spokesperson, please contact press@actionagainsthunger.org.uk or call 0208 293 6130.

Email our team
A girl fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. DEC member charities are ready to respond.

DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

More than two million people have fled their homes to escape conflict in Ukraine. Leaving behind jobs, belongings and loved ones, they need shelter, food and water.

Donate now

Notes to editors

Details of the event are available here.

Chef bios

Angela Hartnett

Angela Hartnett, MBE, is one of the UK’s most loved chefs and restaurateurs, known for her sophisticated yet simple, Italy-inspired cooking. Since 2008 Angela has opened and remains involved in critically acclaimed restaurants such as Michelin starred Murano in Mayfair, Café Murano, and Merchants Tavern in Shoreditch.

Neil Borthwick

Born in Edinburgh, Neil fell in love with food whilst washing pots at the age of 14. From this modest start, he has since honed his skills at The Connaught, Michel Bras and The Square, amongst others, and won Young Chef of the Year in 2005. After leaving the Merchants Tavern, the restaurant he opened with his wife Angela Hartnett, two years ago, Neil is now Head Chef at The French House in Soho, one of the last true London culinary and drinking institutions

Lisa Goodwin-Allen

Lisa Goodwin-Allen is one of the most innovative and exciting chefs in the UK today. Leading the kitchen brigade at Northcote since the age of 23 and a regular face on Britain’s tv screens, she draws inspiration from the beautiful Ribble Valley landscape to produce stunning dishes which showcase the wide range of incredible produce the region has to offer.

 Tom Kerridge

Michelin star chef Tom Kerridge is a nationally acclaimed figure, with multiple restaurants, cookbooks and TV shows under his belt. Tom’s first catering job was working as a commis chef at Calcot Manor in Gloucestershire. He decided to take over a run-down pub, The Hand And Flowers in Marlow, with his wife back in 2005. By 2011, it became the first pub to ever receive two Michelin stars. In 2018 Tom opened the restaurant Kerridge’s Bar & Grill in the Corinthia Hotel London.

Nieves Barragan

Nieves moved to London in 1998, starting in the kitchen at Simply Nico, before joining the Harts Restaurant Group in 2003. In 2007 Nieves became the group’s Executive Chef ahead of the launch of the first Barrafina restaurant on London’s Frith Street. As Executive Chef of Barrafina for ten years, Nieves oversaw the launch of two further Barrafina restaurants (Adelaide Street and Drury Lane) and in 2014 was awarded a Michelin Star. In 2018, Nieves was awarded her own Michelin Star for Sabor.

Ed Wilson

Ed Wilson is the chef and owner of Brawn restaurant in Columbia road, Bethnal Green, London. Established in 2010, this neighborhood restaurant continues to evolve and grow in reputation. Ed’s philosophy of cooking simple, seasonal, delicious food that is always linked to outstanding produce and pouring real wines that reflect their terroirs has established Brawn as one of the best places to eat and drink well in the city.

 A collection of images and video footage of DEC member charities responding as refugees arrive into neighbouring countries is available here.

UK Aid Match enquiries should be directed to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Please call 0207 023 0600 (24-hour).

About the DEC

The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities at times of crisis overseas to raise funds quickly and efficiently. In these times of crisis, people in life-and-death situations need our help and our mission is to save, protect and rebuild lives through effective humanitarian response. The DEC’s 15 member charities are: Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Plan International UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.

Thirteen of the DEC’s 15 members are either responding or planning to respond in Ukraine or in neighbouring countries and will receive funds from this appeal. Some may work through trusted local partners. They are Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Oxfam GB, Plan International, Save the Children UK and World Vision UK.

Through UK Aid Match the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) gives the British public the opportunity to have a say in how the UK aid budget is spent whilst boosting the impact of the very best British charities to change and save the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. The UK Government match funded up to £25 million of public donations to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. This is the largest commitment ever made to a DEC appeal through UK Aid Match and will double the impact of public donations, ensuring that charities working on the ground can reach those in urgent need.

UK Aid Match has increased the impact of a number of DEC appeals to help those in need around the world, including most recently to support people in Afghanistan through DEC’s Afghanistan Appeal in 2021.

Enquiries about UK Aid Match and UK Government support for Ukraine should be directed to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Newsdesk. Please email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk.