When Trampoline Café in Angel changed hands under new ownership this month, it was not a faceless business deal – it was a homecoming.
The Sri Lankan-run café, tucked in the cobbled backstreets of Camden Passage, has long been known for its fresh ingredients, crowds spilling into the streets, and its powerful mission: to train and employ refugees through its Changing Journeys programme.
Now, that mission has taken a full-circle turn. On 1 October, Trampoline Café officially passed down into the hands of one of its own – Yogeswaran, ‘Yogi’, Sivakolundu, who first joined the team as a chef after years of displacement, homelessness, and recovery from mental health issues.
Under its new name, Yogi’s Sri Lankan Kitchen, the restaurant will continue serving its fragrant Muddon and Kadhdhoo curries that have made it a local favourite – while expanding its charitable reach across Islington.
The chef-turned-owner’s journey is just as remarkable as the food that comes out of its kitchen.
Arriving in the UK from Sri Lanka as an asylum seeker in 2007, Yogi spent years in limbo – sofa surfing, sleeping rough across tube stations, and struggling with post-traumatic stress.
After health complications and a mental health crisis in 2019, Yogi was sectioned and later referred to Freedom from Torture, a charity supporting survivors of persecution.
There he began rebuilding his life, eventually finding solace and purpose in cooking through the Migrateful programme, which teaches refugees to lead cookery classes.
He went on to work at the British Museum, the Park Plaza Hotel, and as a private chef before joining Trampoline Café – then a new social enterprise founded by NEMI Teas in 2023 to help refugees break into hospitality.
Now, as its owner, he is keeping that ethos alive while adding his own imprint. Each morning, Yogi and his team of ‘kinfolk’ set aside six dishes for homeless people and others in need.
They also cook for charity and church events, serving over 100 people at a time. Next, Yogi plans to introduce breakfast to the menu, saying his main goal is ‘making sure everyone leaves with their belly full’.
“The dishes I make are a reflection of all the love I’ve experienced in my life and the love I want to give back,” he added.
Yogi’s passion does not go unfelt within the community to which he is dedicated. A nearby resident in Angel, Blair Reid, lauded his enterprise.
“Yogi is the heartbeat of the community with his hospitality and welcoming presence. Trampoline Cafe has hosted some great events for me and the food is delicious!” the resident said.
In 2023, after 15 years away, on a trip to India, Yogi reunited with his original community – his family.
“I cooked every meal for them,” he said. “That was the moment I truly realised the weight of the journey I had been on.
“Seeing my mother as proud and emotional as she ate the food I prepared for her made me hope that I can bring that same feeling of care and home to everyone I cook for – no matter where they are from, no matter their asylum status, or their financial background.”
The kitchen is his now, but the principle has not changed: generosity – in spirit, and in spice.
Featured image credit: Emily Driver
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