Location: Cambridge Central Mosque 309 – 313 Mill Road Cambridge CB1 3DF 5.30pm – 8.30pm

On Wednesday 25 January, Islamic Relief UK will partner with Cambridge Central Mosque to distribute hundreds of essential food hampers to vulnerable families in Cambridge.

The new year continues to see the cost of living crisis pushing families into poverty and Cambridge 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.

A report by the Centre for Cities think tank in 2020 identified Cambridge as the least equal city in the UK for the second year in a row. Income was more unevenly distributed among residents than in any of the other 57 UK cities measured in the annual report, including Oxford and London.

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 Cambridge 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 items by staff and volunteers at Cambridge Central Mosque, before delivery to locations across the city.

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

Muhammad Ashraf, Director of Cambridge Central Mosque said: “We are honoured to be able to continue helping the most vulnerable in our local community during an acute cost of living crisis that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in society.

Last year we hosted a cost of living popup event in coordination with the city council and local partners. We take seriously our Islamic duty to look after those in need as best as we can, and we are grateful to be able to work with Islamic Relief to do so.”

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.”