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 the Stonebridge area of London. It's like a community center that gives out food and offers support to families who need it.
The name "Sufra" comes from an Arabic word that means sharing food together. A person named Mohammed Mamdani started Sufra. It officially began in April 2013. The local council in Brent, London, helped fund Sufra to start in St Raphael's Estate, which was an area with many families needing help.
Contents
How Sufra Started and Grew
Early Days and New Programs
In 2011, Mohammed Mamdani first thought of the idea for Sufra. He is a social entrepreneur, which means he creates projects to solve social problems. He had already started other helpful groups before Sufra.
In April 2013, Sufra moved to its home in St Raphael's Estate. This was an important step for the charity.
In June 2014, Sufra began running "Food Academies." These classes taught people how to cook healthy and affordable meals. This helped families learn important life skills.
In January 2015, Sufra teamed up with Aston Business School. This partnership helped Sufra become even better at what it does.
Helping Families and Raising Awareness
Sufra also collected food to help people prepare for a new system called Universal Credit. This system changed how some benefits were paid.
On January 15, 2019, Mohammed Mamdani stepped down as director of Sufra. Rajesh Makwana took over his role.
In November 2019, Sufra held a "Food-Parcel Challenge." This event aimed to show how hard it is for people facing food poverty. Participants lived on a food parcel for five days. They also raised money for the charity.
In 2019, Sufra joined several important networks. These included the Feeding Britain network and the Independent Food Aid Network. They also became a leader in the Brent Food Aid Network. Sufra worked hard to make Brent a "Right to Food" borough. This means everyone should have access to enough food. Sufra also helped the Brent Council respond to food shortages.
Helping During the Pandemic
Sufra's Role in the COVID-19 Crisis
Sufra was recognized for its important work during the coronavirus pandemic. Hello! magazine even listed Sufra as a charity people could support in 2020.
During this time, Sufra launched an emergency appeal. They worked hard to get food to people who needed it. The charity faced challenges with getting enough food supplies during the pandemic.
Rajesh Makwana, Sufra's director, received a special award in 2022. He was given a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his great work in Brent. This award especially recognized his efforts during the pandemic.
In January 2022, Sufra NW London started working with Islamic Relief. This partnership helped them reach even more people.
See also
- List of food banks
- Mohammed Mamdani
