Islamic Relief UK and Burnley FC join hands to help struggling families through the cost of living crisis 


Today Monday January 16, Islamic Relief UK will partner with Burnley FC in the Community (BFCitC) to distribute hundreds of essential food hampers to vulnerable families in Lancashire. The distribution will take place at Burnley Community Kitchen. 

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

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 Lancashire 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 will be packed with essential food and hygiene items by Burnley FC staff and volunteers at Burnley community kitchen, before delivery to locations across the city.

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

Michael Colquhoun, Director of Community Projects at BFCitC, said: “We are delighted to work with Islamic Relief UK who undertake incredible work nationally and internationally helping the most vulnerable.

Our Foodbank operation at Burnley FC in the Community continues every day to help the local community, and the support from Islamic Relief UK is more than welcomed”.

Tufail Hussain, Director of Islamic Relief UK said: “We are proud to partner with Burnley FC to reach out to some of the most vulnerable in Burnley.

“This cost of living crisis continues to affect the lives of vulnerable families. Many will have suffered a difficult winter in choosing whether to heat their homes or put hot food on the table.  

“We thank Burnley FC for their inspiring efforts in helping those in need and their generosity in partnering with Islamic Relief UK. 

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 Burnley FC in the Community (BFCitC

BFCitC is the award-winning, official charity of Burnley Football Club.

We work hard every day to deliver our mission across the communities of Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, the Ribble Valley and West Yorkshire. Together we inspire, support and deliver positive change for all.

Our work is channelled into key areas: Education & Employability, Community Welfare & Inclusion, Football Development and Community Facilities.  Our highly-skilled, dynamic and passionate team now deliver over 50 community projects that touch the lives of a huge spectrum of people in and around Burnley. From children and young people right through to senior citizens.

Though we are embedded within the ethos of Burnley FC, we are financially independent from the football club. We rely on fundraising activities, donations, sponsorships and grants to do the work we do and every penny we raise goes to developing new opportunities for those who need it most.

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.