Supporting families in Leeds with Leeds United Foundation & Give a Gift

On Wednesday 16 February 2022, Islamic Relief UK partnered with Leeds United Foundation and Give a Gift to distribute 500 essential food packs to vulnerable people in Leeds including the homeless, asylum seekers, refugees and women who have suffered domestic abuse. Leeds has seen a stark rise in families needing financial assistance and help with food.

Give a Gift, which helps disadvantaged people, has received more calls for help compared to the first two lockdowns due to the number of temporarily stopped or closed down services. They have also seen asylum seekers live off £5 a day and met families prioritising eating or heating as they struggle to pay their bills with energy prices increasing.

Soaring prices and inflation across all of life’s essentials have severely impacted families’ cost of living and UK households could be £1,000 worse-off in 2022, according to Resolution Foundation analysis.

The food packs contained items including, rice, pasta, oil, cornflakes, and tinned vegetables –alongside products such as shampoo, shower gel, sanitary towels and more.

With poverty levels in the UK increasing, Islamic Relief UK is also distributing food parcels across the country with different partners.

“Leeds United Foundation are delighted to be able to continue our community volunteering programme for the people of Leeds in partnership with Give A Gift and Islamic Relief UK. “Sadly the demand for foodbank support remains strong within our City and this well-respected programme enables us to make a small difference to these 500 families in these most difficult times.”

“Sadly, the sharp increase we have witnessed for support during the Pandemic shows no sign of slowing down. If anything, the economic impact of increased fuel prices and inflation is leading to even greater levels of poverty.  “This partnership with Islamic Relief UK and the Leeds United Foundation will provide much-needed support at a difficult time for our families. We look forward to working with both partners on a longer-term basis to assist underprivileged communities.”

“Islamic Relief UK is proud to be working with Leeds United Foundation and Give a Gift who are doing great work for their community. “This is a very challenging time for many families in Leeds who have been hit hard by the pandemic and are struggling financially. The food packs will give much-needed relief and we thank our partners for their generous efforts to help those in need. “Poverty in the UK is increasing and we must do everything we can to address this issue and reach out to communities across the country.”

For any questions or to request to interview one of our spokespeople, please contact: Jonaid Jilani: 07872 403534

Leeds United Foundation is inspired by our Community, we march together to support health, well being, education and sports participation for all.

We use the power of Leeds United to support and inspire those who live in our place.

We do this through a range of activities including health and social education in primary and secondary schools, community volunteering , sports participation for everyone, we enable young people to make Positive Choices™ about their lives and futures, and we combat loneliness and sadness for all age groups including with our Dementia Café.

The Give a Gift concept has been developed by a partnership of organisations that recognise the need for the Muslim community to play a wider role within mainstream society. Since its inception it has now worked with people and partners from all backgrounds, contributing to our aim of making society a fairer and more harmonious community for everyone.

We raise funds for good causes and support the most vulnerable including asylum seekers, those living in poverty and people residing in disadvantaged communities.

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.