Community pillars join hands with Islamic Relief UK to help struggling families hit by the cost of living crisis across Scotland

Locations:

Masjid Al Hikmah – Saturday January 28 2023 11am – 4pm 31-33 St Clement Street, Aberdeen, AB11 5FU

Blackhall Mosque – Sunday January 29 1 House O’Hill Rd, Edinburgh EH4 2AJ

Crookston Community Group – Tuesday January 31 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm 19-23 Ladymuir Crescent, Glasgow – G53 5UE

Islamic Relief UK partnered with community pillars including Crookston Community Group, Masjid Al Hikmah and Blackhall Mosque to distribute 500 essential food hampers as well as supermarket vouchers to vulnerable families.

The new year continues to see the cost of living crisis pushing families into poverty and Scotland has seen an alarming rise in food insecurity and the need for financial assistance, fuelling the need for food banks across the city.

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 disadvantage. This includes low-income families, those suffering from domestic abuse, the homeless, asylum seekers and refugees who were already struggling to feed themselves.

Many families in Scotland have been hit hard by the pandemic and suffered a cold Winter of choosing whether to heat or eat.

To help some of the most vulnerable, hampers were packed with essential food by staff and volunteers, before delivery to locations across the city and residents.

The food packs contained essential items such as bread, pasta, tea, biscuits, oil, sugar and others.

Sulaiman Aminy at Crookston Community Group said:

“There is no better exercise for the heart than reaching people who are in poverty and hunger that need urgent support. However, the winter food drive is happening in a very precise time where lots of families and individuals are struggling with the living costs, so it is important to ensure those that need it receive more help.”

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.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

For any questions or to request to interview one of our spokespeople, please contact:

Saeedah Haque [email protected] 020 3148 3217

About Crookston Community Group

Crookston Community Group was established in 2012 by a group of multi-cultural local people who took over an unused Community Centre to make a positive contribution to the cohesion & economy of the community, to help neighbourhoods feel safe again, rekindle old-fashioned community spirit and bring a sense of belonging with the objectives to:
reduce the effects of deprivation and social exclusion as well as redistribute food and other supplies to those most in need.

About Blackhall Mosque and Association of Scottish Muslims

Association of Scottish Muslims (formely CEPA) is a registered charity founded in 2001 by concerned Muslims from Edinburgh . Its purpose is to work with the Muslim community and statutory organisations to build an infrastructure to provide a range of services to promote the inclusion, the development and the welfare of Muslims, enabling them to become a responsible and thriving part of civic life.

Masjid Al Hikmah and Community Centre

Masjid Alhikmah and Community Centre is the second major mosque in Aberdeen. It was constructed to meet the needs of Aberdeen’s growing Muslim community in Aberdeen.

About Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way.

Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 40 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo. Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.