Islamic Relief UK and One Roof Leicester help some of the most vulnerable in Leicester after Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha

Islamic Relief UK supported One Roof Leicester to help over 200 people with food and essential items, on Thursday 21 July, as families in Leicester continue to struggle financially due to the rising cost of living.

This is part of a wider initiative led by Islamic Relief UK involving 19 partners across the country to deliver food packs, Qurbani (1) meat and Eid gifts to coincide with the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha (2).

One Roof Leicester are reporting that they are seeing an increase in the number of referrals for emergency food parcels, including from families with young children. They are struggling to find the money for food as the cost of living increases.

Many people have been hit hard by the cost of living crisis, especially low-income families, those suffering from domestic abuse, people who are homeless, asylum seekers and refugees.

The food packs contained a pack of Qurbani meat, a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, milk, cheese and staple non-perishable items including rice, pasta cereal and oil.

Salma Ravat, Manager of One Roof Leicester said: “We are regularly seeing people who are struggling to make ends meet. They can’t buy staple food to feed themselves and their families. The food parcels are not a long-term solution but they provide temporary respite from their struggles. This is why the partnership with Islamic Relief UK, who are funding this initiative is so important.”

Tufail Hussain, Director of Islamic Relief UK said: “It’s heart-breaking to know that more and more families with young children are now resorting to emergency food parcels in Leicester. This should not be happening in one of the richest countries in the world. “As part of the Islamic rite of Qurbani, Islamic Relief UK and One Roof Leicester will distribute much needed food packs to help people struggling as the cost of living crisis worsens.”

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One Roof Leicester (ORL) is a charity which provides accommodation and support to single people who are homeless or rough sleeping in Leicester. In ORL Homes, accommodation is provided in shared homes to single people who are homeless, destitute refugees & EU migrants and refused asylum seekers. Whilst in the home, each resident is supported by a key worker to help them to apply for benefits, housing, employment, training and eventually to move-on. In emergencies ORL will provide accommodation in local Bed and Breakfast hotels. To alleviate food poverty during the Covid pandemic ORL started delivering weekly food parcels to vulnerable individuals and families in Leicester.

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.