Sheffield community groups come together to launch food bank

A food bank has been set up to offer halal meat after a community campaigner found Muslim families were struggling during lockdown.
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Nighat Basharat, founder and chairman of Thalassaemia South Yorkshire, set up a Whatsapp group as she believed there was a lack of awareness in the BAME community around coronavirus, particularly within the South Asian community.

She had videos and messages translated and provided support to the most vulnerable people, often with stress and mental health issues.

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Nighat found there was a lack of halal food for Muslim families and they were reluctant to access food banks.

Volunteers delivering foodVolunteers delivering food
Volunteers delivering food

Identifying a gap within Sharrow and Nether Edge for this kind of support, she approached Families Relief, iaspire Foundation, Sheffield Muslim Forum and One Nation Community Centre.

Collectively, they created the Nether Edge and Sharrow Community Food Bank.

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Nighat said: “We have helped more than 100 families from all backgrounds, including community organisations such as New Beginnings, Roshni, Ashiana, Sharrow Community Forum, Family Voice, Lowfield School, Darnall Wellbeing to name a few.

Nighat Basharatn (right) at the food bankNighat Basharatn (right) at the food bank
Nighat Basharatn (right) at the food bank
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“We have also provided hot food to our NHS Mental Health Services at Forest Lodge, Forest Close and Michael Carlisle Centre through a kind donation from the Wicker Kebabish.

“I am proud of people coming together in this time of need and I'm honoured to be with such a fantastic team who are working tirelessly.

“As volunteers, this role is additional to other responsibilities we have and our work is only possible through the kind donations from all the community that we have raised between us. Our aim is to have no one going without food."

Coun Jim Steinke, councillor for Nether Edge and Sharrow said: “This is a great example of local people from different backgrounds recognising the needs faced by vulnerable people in the community, and then working together to try and meet those needs.

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“Individuals or agencies working alone in this crisis is not the most effective way to support people. Different organisations need to come together to share their resources and commitments.”

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