On Tuesday 7 February, Islamic Relief UK partnered with Newham Community Project to distribute hundreds of essential provisions to vulnerable families in London.
The new year continues to see the cost of living crisis pushing families into poverty, and London has seen an alarming rise in food insecurity and the need for financial assistance, fuelling the need for food banks across the capital.
Islamic Relief UK will continue to support the most affected through food banks, mosques and other organisations but are calling on the UK government to ensure people have adequate incomes to cover the essentials.
A new report by The Resolution Foundation finds that there are large increases in people unable to afford essentials compared to the pre-pandemic period. In November 2022, 28 per cent (up from 9 per cent pre-pandemic) of adults say that they could not afford to eat balanced meals, and 11 per cent or 6 million adults (up from 5 per cent pre-pandemic) reported being hungry in the past
month but they didn’t eat as they lacked enough money to buy food.
These very alarming outcomes are more common among groups
known to experience disadvantages. This includes low-income families, those suffering from domestic abuse, the homeless, asylum seekers, refugees and those with no recourse to public funds, who continue to struggle to feed themselves and their families.
Many families in London have been hit hard by the pandemic and suffered a cold Winter of choosing whether to heat or eat. Families with no recourse to public funds have suffered disproportionately more than others. Newham Community Project supports those with no recourse to public funds and disadvantaged community members as they have limited help available.
To help some of the most vulnerable, essential provisions food packs were prepared by Islamic Relief UK and Newham Community Project staff and volunteers before distributing to destitute families in need at the Newham Community Project foodbank.
The food packs will contain essential items such as bread, pasta, tea, biscuits, oil, flour, rice, sugar, fresh fruit and veg, and more.
Elyas Ismail, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Newham Community Project said “Whether it’s covid, or the cost-of-living crisis, hunger and poverty remain very much at large. We support disadvantaged and discriminated families facing adversities and inequalities in Newham and the surrounding boroughs.
The families we are supporting have no recourse to public funds and are disproportionately struggling more than others. We provide essential weekly provisions to over 650 families through our foodbank and baby bank; a number which has steadily been growing every week over the last few months”
Islamic Relief UK has supported us in running many much-needed projects, including combating food poverty and child poverty. Without support, it would be difficult to financially and otherwise manage what we do”.
Tufail Hussain, Director of Islamic Relief UK said: “Food banks are not a sustainable or dignified way to help people who are struggling to survive because they do not have a sufficient or reliable income. We will continue to support the most vulnerable through our programmes, but food banks should not exist in one of the wealthiest countries in the world.”
“The current cost of living crisis has revealed just how much the UK’s benefits system is failing to support those on the lowest incomes. Only long-term structural change will give people the best chance of escaping poverty and living with dignity. “The UK government must do more to deal with the immediate impacts of the cost of living crisis, but also undertake a fundamental review of the UK’s social security system with a view to ensuring benefits provide people with an adequate income to cover their essential needs.”
