Key Points
- Islamic Relief UK and Newham Community Project have partnered to distribute Qurbani food packs and essential items to over 1,000 vulnerable individuals and families in Newham, London.
- The initiative coincides with Eid al-Adha, a significant Islamic festival marked by the distribution of Qurbani meat to those in need.
- The food packs include staples such as rice, pasta, flour, oil, sugar, canned goods, cereals, and biscuits.
- Newham Community Project has witnessed a doubling in food bank usage in the past two months, with a notable rise in cases of domestic violence linked to the cost-of-living crisis.
- The project supports families and individuals with no recourse to public funds, including international students and overstayers, who are excluded from state benefits.
- Newham is one of London’s most food-insecure boroughs, with a poverty rate of 38% compared to the London average of 25.93%.
- The Newham Community Project, founded by Elyas and Yasmin Ismail, now serves over 2,000 people weekly, offering not only food but also immigration, employability, and housing support.
- Islamic Relief UK’s Director, Tufail Hussain, and Newham Community Project’s COO, Elyas Ismail, have both expressed deep concern over the worsening situation for low-income families.
- The collaboration is part of a wider national initiative by Islamic Relief UK, involving 19 partners across the country.
- Community solidarity, including support from local faith groups and businesses, has been vital in meeting increased demand during crises.
Islamic Relief UK and Newham Community Project have joined forces to deliver vital Qurbani food packs and essential supplies to more than 1,000 vulnerable families in Newham, London, as the borough grapples with soaring poverty and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The initiative, timed with the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha, aims to provide relief to those hardest hit, including families with no access to public funds, international students, and those experiencing domestic abuse.
Why Have Islamic Relief UK and Newham Community Project Teamed Up for Eid al-Adha?
As reported by the London Post, Islamic Relief UK is supporting the Newham Community Project on Saturday, 16 July, to distribute food and essential items to over 1,000 people in Newham. This collaboration is part of a broader initiative led by Islamic Relief UK, which involves 19 partners nationwide delivering food packs, Qurbani meat, and Eid gifts to coincide with Eid al-Adha.
Tufail Hussain, Director of Islamic Relief UK, told London Post, “It’s truly shocking to learn that Newham Community Project has seen the number of people coming to their food bank double in just the last two months and triple since the start of this year. Families in the UK are struggling to put food on the table as a result of the cost of living crisis and things are getting worse. Islamic Relief UK will partner with Newham Community Project to bring food and Eid gifts for children to families who have been struggling during this crisis”.
What Is Included in the Qurbani Food Packs and Who Benefits?
According to the London Post, the food packs distributed contain staples such as rice, pasta, flour, oil, sugar, salt, canned tuna, tomatoes, vegetables, rice pudding, canned soup, cereals, and biscuits. These items are intended to provide not only immediate relief but also nutritional support for families facing food insecurity.
Elyas Ismail, Chief Operating Officer of Newham Community Project, explained to London Post, “The cost of living rise in the UK has had a devastating impact on families with young children. Following the last lockdown, we saw our foodbank queues decrease and assumed the economy was slowly but surely recovering. Now, with the rise in energy bills having a devastating impact on the global cost of living, recovering families of the pandemic are forced to turn back to charities for support, and seek foodbank assistance to feed their families”.
The Newham Community Project particularly supports those with “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF), including international students and overstayers who are excluded from state benefits. Many of these individuals and families live in overcrowded and confined accommodations, compounding their hardship.
How Has the Cost-of-Living Crisis Affected Newham’s Vulnerable Communities?
As detailed by Good News Shared, Newham Community Project has seen a significant increase in demand for food support, especially from international students and overstayers who are among the more than 10,000 residents in Newham without access to public funds. Co-founder Yasmin Ismail described the daily operations: “Tuesdays are one of our busiest days. Volunteers bag up deliveries in preparation for distribution around midday. Usually, we finish distributing to families around 2.30 and then in the evening we cater to students or individuals. Around 5.30, volunteers will start bagging for evening distribution at 7.00”.
The project has also reported a rise in domestic violence cases, with many families attributing increased stress and hardship to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
What Is the Scale and Impact of Food Insecurity in Newham?
According to City Harvest, the Newham Community Project food bank was established during Ramadan 2020 in response to urgent local needs and has since become an essential lifeline for thousands of residents. The poverty rate in Newham, as reported by The Trust for London, stands at 38%, significantly higher than the London average of 25.93%.
Initially serving around 30 families, the project rapidly expanded: within a week, it was helping 80 families, and by the end of Ramadan 2020, it was serving 300–500 people daily. Today, the project distributes essential groceries to over 2,000 service users each week and provides additional support with immigration, employability, and housing issues.
Yasmin Ismail, co-founder, recounted to City Harvest, “We said: OK, we have to do something; we can’t expect people to fast for up to 20 hours and only break their fast with a handful of fruit”. The project’s approach is rooted in cultural sensitivity, recognising that around 35–40% of Newham’s population is Muslim.
How Has Community Solidarity Played a Role in Addressing the Crisis?
City Harvest highlighted the importance of collaboration, noting that the Newham Community Project’s ability to serve around 80–100 people a day is bolstered by support from organisations such as City Harvest and the wider community. “When we first went into lockdown, all the communities and faiths came together in solidarity to help those less fortunate. The Gurdwaras, the mosque, the local businesses, everybody helping London in a time of crisis,” Yasmin Ismail recalled.
What Broader Initiatives Are Underway to Combat Food Poverty?
The partnership between Islamic Relief UK and Newham Community Project is part of a larger, nationwide effort. As reported by the London Post, Islamic Relief UK is working with 19 partners across the country to provide food packs, Qurbani meat, and Eid gifts during Eid al-Adha. This initiative mirrors other campaigns, such as the Ramadan Food Parcel Appeal by IEPR, which aims to deliver essential groceries to families struggling with the rising cost of living.
What Is the Outlook for Vulnerable Families in Newham?
Despite the tireless efforts of organisations like Islamic Relief UK and Newham Community Project, the situation remains dire for many in Newham. The doubling of food bank usage, rising domestic violence, and continued exclusion of certain groups from public funds underscore the urgent need for sustained support and policy change.
As Newham Community Project’s COO Elyas Ismail told Good News Shared, “In times like this, unfortunately, the vulnerable are most at risk of hardship. Some families are struggling to support themselves here and back home”.
In summary, the collaboration between Islamic Relief UK and Newham Community Project during Eid al-Adha is a critical intervention for some of London’s most vulnerable residents, reflecting both the severity of food insecurity in Newham and the power of community solidarity in times of crisis.
