Islamic Relief UK will team up with Cann Hall Mosque in East London to provide food and essential items on Thursday 3 February as families in London continue to be impacted by the rising cost of living.

The New Year continues to see the cost of living crisis pushing families into poverty and London has seen an alarming rise in food insecurity and the need for financial assistance, fuelling the need for food banks across the capital.

Islamic Relief UK will continue to support the most affected through food banks, mosques and other organisations but are calling on the UK government to ensure people have adequate incomes to cover the essentials.

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.

The food packs will contain essential items such as bread, rice, pasta, tea/coffee, baked beans, chopped tomatoes, chick peas, green peas, sweetcorn, tuna, chocolate spread, ketchup, milk, squash, oil, cereal, peanuts, fresh fruit, and pizza.

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.”

Syed Shafi, Chair of Cann Hall Mosque said “Our Food Bank has seen as sharp increase in the number of families needing support. Feedback from our recipients indicates this is a direct impact arising from the cost of living crisis. Families are really struggling to make ends meet and are heavily reliant on the food bags provided. Our bags consist of ambient foods on a weekly basis, along with fresh fruit and frozen vegetables once a month.

We are also supporting vulnerable members of our community who are unable to travel to the Food Bank by delivering bags to their homes. We are grateful to our Masjid congregation, donors and volunteers for their support. That said, Cann Hall is in need of more food and financial donations to continue this service to our community.”