First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon visits Islamic Relief UK shop to support Syria campaign

On Friday 30th April, First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon received a chocolate cake at Islamic Relief UK’s Southside Glasgow shop as part of the charity’s Cake Campaign raising funds for Syria.

Photographs can be found here: we.tl/t-OuD4ObV3Xf

At the shop, Sturgeon took time to speak to volunteers and staff – who have been fasting for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan – and learned more about Islamic Relief’s work in Syria and around the world.

Islamic Relief UK is one of the largest providers of aid in Syria. Last year the charity delivered food to more than 770,000 internally displaced people, supported healthcare for 1.2 million people and provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other medical equipment to 84 health facilities.

To help raise funds for Syria and after a year’s hiatus, the award-winning Cake Campaign has returned for Ramadan 2021. Volunteers across the UK have been raising money for the crisis by delivering cakes safely during the Covid-19 pandemic every weekend in this sacred month.

In previous years, the majority of customers have been families in the UK, but cakes have also been delivered to Members of Parliament, churches and even celebrities such as Moeen Ali and Amir Khan. People can order the cakes from and the money raised will be allocated to Islamic Relief’s humanitarian work in Syria.

As of last Ramadan, The Cake Campaign has sold over 158,000 cakes and raised over £1.5million.

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, said:

“It’s fantastic to be here at Islamic Relief. Thank you very much for this wonderful cake. Ramadan is such a special time for our Muslim communities and I know how difficult it has been to mark it again this year during the lockdown. I want to thank you for all your patience and your sacrifice and also to wish our Muslim community in Scotland and across the world Eid Mubarak (Happy Eid).” Eid or Eid al-Fitr is the festival marking the end of Ramadan.

“Millions of people in Syria have lost their homes and their loved ones, and have been forced to flee for their lives. The crisis is now in its tenth year and people are in desperate need of assistance. It was wonderful for the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon to visit our shop in Glasgow and learn about our work, we need as much awareness raised about the plight of people in Syria. It is also so inspiring to see our young volunteers across the country delivering cakes to help those less fortunate in Syria, especially while fasting from dawn until dusk.”

Photograph of the shop visit can be found here: 

For more information, contact:

Jonaid Jilani, Media Manager at Islamic Relief UK

Email:

Tel: 07872403534

Follow Islamic Relief UK on Social Media:

What is Ramadan?

For Muslims across the globe, the holy month of Ramadan is a sacred time for worshipping Allah, (God). This period offers an opportunity for devotion, reflection and celebration of the mercy and love of Allah.

During this period, healthy adult Muslims will show this devotion through fasting from dawn until dusk. Other acts of worship such as prayer, reading the Qur’an and charity are also encouraged during the holy month.

You can find out more about Ramadan on the

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 37 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.