'Cost of Living crisis meant celebrating Ramadan was impossible - but great British public stepped in'

Paying for food and bills is struggle for half the British population compared with a year ago – and nearly one in three of us fear they will need to use a food bank.

That’s the disturbing results of new survey by a charity and it’s partners tackling the huge demand for even the most basic meals. The poll, by Savanta and Islamic Relief UK, are in line with the need for its services during its biggest ever food distribution across the country last winter.

READ MORE – Cost of living help worth £500m being paid to thousands of households – including free cash

After three years of distributing food parcels, Islamic Relief says the cost-of-living crisis has progressively worsened year on year. The charity works with food banks, mosques and community centres who are reporting that these parcels and hardship grants are increasingly the only means of survival for many.

Now it is calling for a full review of the benefits system to lift millions out of poverty. Here Shazia Arshad, of Islamic Relief, explains even celebrating the recent Ramadan was impossible for many Muslim families on the brink of poverty.

A Muslim family gathering for Iftar food on Ramadan

‘ACROSS the UK this Ramadan Muslim families came together to break their fasts at sunset each day. So many families were blessed with a full table of food and a house full of warmth and love.

‘But at Islamic Relief we heard from so many families for whom it was harder than ever. This Ramadan families felt the full force of the cost-of-living crisis continue to bite at their heels as they struggled to fill their tables with the usual Ramadan spreads and worried instead about even having enough food to break their fast.

‘At last week’s Eid al-Fitr festival, which marked the end of Ramadan, British Muslims would normally have enjoyed a hearty celebration with their whole family, but this year many relied on food banks just to get the bare essentials on the table.

‘Every day there are families up and down the UK who are working out how to stretch their pennies even further, and how to cope with the increasing costs of food, heating, electricity and the many other expenses that seem to show no signs of slowing down.

‘Having to make heartbreaking decisions about how much food there is, or often there isn’t, to go around and being forced to rely on food banks is a place that no family in the UK should have to find themselves. Yet, despite the consistent warnings from charities the situation for struggling families shows little sign of improving.

Shazia Arsad is wearing a dark coloured hijab against a blue background

‘During Ramadan most Muslim families looked forward to the spirit of community and the opportunity to get together with their extended families and friends. The online pictures of iftars, the tables brimming with food, the stories of communities coming together were all that harder to bear for those families who this year found themselves without enough food to eat to break their fast.

‘Instead of spending time with loved ones, hearts were being broken as families found excuses to not invite people to share an iftar meal – simply because they just didn’t have enough food to go around. The stark warnings from charities and the bleak pictures that have been painted do not seem to have raised the alarm yet.

Spirit of community

‘The cost-of-living crisis is continuing to wreak havoc on families. In a recent survey that Islamic Relief conducted with Savanta 30 per cent of families were worried about needing to use a food bank. Rather than Ramadan providing families with a moment of celebration, it’s instead become a month of worry and despair for far too many.

‘Around the country Islamic Relief have been working with food banks to provide food packs and meals to families who are struggling to make ends meet. This year, during Ramadan we once again stepped up our food drive efforts and delivered food packs around the UK.

‘We were also able to provide iftar meals to struggling families. The Ramadan spirit of community was alive and kicking at our food distributions and iftars, but they’re just a small drop in the ocean to help families face the very real impacts of poverty.

The Islamic Relief food drive, supported by the Qatar Embassy in London, was a great opportunity to get into the heart of many vulnerable communities. We’re meeting resilient families who are continuing to thrive under the most difficult conditions

‘But ultimately we hope that families are lifted out of poverty by a full review of the benefits system so that they can eventually enjoy Ramadan with their friends and families in their own homes, with their own tables brimming with food. Islamic Relief’s work here in the UK is only possible thanks to the generosity of the great British public.’

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The ‘never-ending storm’

East London mum Bibi, who is married to a struggling Uber driver and can’t find any work herself, explains how the foodbank at the Newham Community Project – part funded by Islamic Relief – has been a life saver:

‘LIVING in the UK right now feels like walking through a never-ending storm. As a mum to four children, each day brings new challenges because everything is just so expensive.

‘Our troubles began when we were wrongly evicted from our home for no reason except because our landlord wanted more money, so we had to leave within a few days. We ended up in a crowded house with other families, paying £1,500 per month without bills, struggling to make ends meet.

‘My husband’s job doesn’t pay us enough to cover our rent, bills, and all our other expenses. It’s tough, really tough. Then we are still recovering from the financial loss in Covid 19 lockdowns and now the increase in price for everything.

‘Last year, our youngest son was critically ill and admitted to hospital with a life-threatening illness. We were terrified, but on top of that, we had to find a way to pay for our accommodation at the hospital or travel expenses to and from the hospital every day. It was all my worst nightmares in one and more.

Bibi is wearing a beige coloured hijab and a patterned top, holding her young child in her lap

‘We could not cope financially, emotionally or any other way. I remember sitting in the hospital waiting room, worrying about how we were going to manage. My husband had to take time off work to be with our son, which meant we had even less money coming in.

‘We couldn’t afford the hotel near the hospital, so we had to travel back and forth every day, which cost us a fortune in train fares. We were barely scraping by when someone told us about the Newham Community Project foodbank.

‘I’ll never forget the relief I felt when we walked through those doors for the first time. The volunteers greeted us with warm smiles and handed us bags filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, pasta, and other essentials that are culturally appropriate.

‘It was like a weight had been lifted off our shoulders, knowing that we wouldn’t have to worry about where our next meal was coming from. This Ramadan, our family found ourselves with additional strain. Psychologically, we’re struggling, feeling the weight of our circumstances bearing down on us.

‘However, Newham Community Project’s wellbeing team has provided us with the strength to carry on, one day at a time. The rising costs of groceries and essential items would have made it increasingly difficult to afford the traditional iftar meals that bring families together each evening to break their fast.

‘The stress of stretching every penny to cover basic needs leaves little room for the spiritual reflection and devotion that Ramadan is all about. As each day passed, the pressure of financial insecurity weighs heavily on our minds, making it hard to fully immerse ourselves in the spiritual practices that Ramadan holds dear.

Eternally grateful

‘Despite our best efforts to uphold the traditions of fasting and prayer, the relentless strain of the cost-of-living crisis served as a constant reminder of the challenges we face, both materially and spiritually, during this sacred time.

‘I know the foodbank does not have a lot of money either and rely on other sources to help them provide for families like mine that are honestly struggling without their support. I am eternally grateful to Islamic Relief UK; I see them help the foodbank to provide us with sufficient food to last a week.

‘But the foodbank didn’t just provide us with food; they offered us support and guidance too. They offered us trauma and mental well-being support, life skills, budgeting, and meal planning. They even signposted us to other services that could help us, they taught us to maximise what little we do have.

‘We have family and one-to-one counselling sessions every week. Their support has been instrumental in helping us navigate these trying times, providing not only sustenance for our bodies but also solace for our souls.

‘Without their compassionate wraparound assistance, I honestly don’t know how we would be managing. Nobody wants to go to a food bank to get food to provide for their children, but these are desperate times, and we have no other choice.

‘Thanks to the foodbank and the support we are receiving, we are able to cope better with one of the toughest times of our lives. While we’re still facing challenges, knowing that there are people out there who care about us gives me hope for the future.

‘We’re not alone in this struggle, and for that, I am truly grateful.’

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