Sufra (charity) facts for kids
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| Founded | April 2013 |
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| Founder | Mohammed S. Mamdani |
| Type | Charity |
| Registration no. | 115191 |
| Focus | Food poverty in the United Kingdom |
| Location |
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Area served
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United Kingdom |
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Key people
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Rajesh Makwana |
Sufra (also known as Sufra NW London) is a special place that helps people in need. It's a community food and support center located in the Stonebridge area of Brent, England.
Sufra was started by Mohammed Mamdani. Its name comes from an Arabic word, sufra, which means a place where people gather to eat together. The charity officially began in April 2013. The local council in Brent helped fund Sufra to support people in Raphael's Estate, which was one of the poorer areas.
What is Sufra NW London?
Sufra is a charity that works to fight food poverty. This means they help people who don't have enough food to eat. They also offer other kinds of support to families and individuals. Their main goal is to make sure everyone in their community has access to healthy food.
How Sufra Started and Grew
Early Ideas and Beginnings (2011-2019)
The idea for Sufra came from Mohammed Mamdani in 2011. He is a social entrepreneur, which means he creates projects to solve social problems. He had already started other helpful groups like the Muslim Youth Helpline. In April 2013, Sufra found its home in St Raphael's Estate.
Teaching Cooking Skills
In June 2014, Sufra started something called "Food Academies." These classes taught people how to cook healthy meals. This helped people learn important life skills. In January 2015, Sufra even teamed up with Aston Business School to improve their work.
Helping with Universal Credit
Sufra also prepared for changes to a government benefit called Universal Credit. They collected food to help people who might struggle during this time. On January 15, 2019, Mohammed Mamdani stepped down as director. Rajesh Makwana took over his role.
The Food-Parcel Challenge
In November 2019, Sufra held a "Food-Parcel Challenge." This event aimed to show how serious food poverty was in Brent. People lived on a food parcel for five days. This helped them understand the challenges many families face. It also raised money for the charity.
Joining Forces to Fight Hunger
In 2019, Sufra became part of bigger networks. They joined the Feeding Britain network and the Independent Food Aid Network. They also became leaders of the Brent Food Aid Network. Sufra worked hard to make Brent a "Right to Food" borough. This means they wanted everyone in Brent to have the right to enough food. Sufra also helped the Brent Council respond to food shortages.
Helping During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-2022)
Sufra played a big role during the coronavirus pandemic. They were even mentioned in Hello! magazine as a charity to support. Sufra launched an emergency appeal to help people during this difficult time.
Facing Challenges and Earning Recognition
The charity faced challenges getting enough food during the pandemic. Rajesh Makwana, Sufra's director, received a British Empire Medal in 2022. This award recognized his important work in Brent, especially during the pandemic.
Partnering for a Better Future
In January 2022, Sufra NW London teamed up with Islamic Relief. This partnership helped them reach even more people in need.
See Also
- List of food banks
- Mohammed Mamdani
