Sufra

Coordinates: 51°32′57″N 0°15′58″W / 51.549061°N 0.266105°W / 51.549061; -0.266105

Sufra

Founded	April 2013
Founder	Mohammed Sadiq Mamdani
Type	Organization
Registration no.	115191
Focus	Food poverty in the United Kingdom
Location	Stonebridge, London, England, UK
Area served	United Kingdom
Key people	Mohammed Sadiq Mamdani
Mission	Community Food Bank & Kitchen which aims to support disadvantaged families suffering food poverty in the local area.
Website	www.sufra-nwlondon.org.uk

Sufra (circumstantially known as Sufra NW London) is a Community Food Bank & Kitchen, based in the London Borough of Brent, which aims to support disadvantaged families suffering food poverty in the local area. Sufra is noted for being the second Muslim run charities, after Al-Mizan, that supports all backgrounds and ethnicities in the UK.^[1]

History

Initial Idea and Start up: 2011-2013

In 2011, Sufra was in talks by Mohammed Mamdani, a social entrepreneur, who founded Muslim Youth Helpline, Ansar Youth Project and Al-Mizan Charitable Trust.,^[2] however it wasn't pushed into establishment until late 2012, until eventually it was officially founded in April, 2013. Sufra is an arabic term meaning "Come to the table".^[3] The aim of the charity was to provide local people with food and even basic necessities and toiletries.

Sufra moved into new premises at Carlton Kitchen in Kilburn in September 2013 on a 3 month lease. Operationally, food collections had been successful with regular donations from key supermarkets and schools. Since start of operations, Sufra has distributed food parcels to over 300 people in need. These clients have come through local referral agencies.^[4] in April 2013 by the local London Borough of Brent to relocate in St Raphael's Estate as this was one of the poorest estate in the local area.^[5]

Food Academies and Business Enterprise Project: 2014-2015

In June 2014, Sufra began to run Food Academies, alongside being a charity, it also became a local community centre aiming to bring the community together by running food academies and teaching people to cook. The main aim was to train young people between the ages of 16–25 years in basic cookery skills. Over 5 weeks and 10 intensive sessions it hopes to teach people to cook 10 home-cooked meals, understand nutrition and how to maintain a healthy diet. In addition to this, they run a master-chef competition and learn to manage weekly budgets with an accredited qualification, which can be used to apply for an apprenticeship or employment in the catering industry.^[6]

In January 2015, Sufra joined a partnership with Aston Business School. It launched a recruitment drive for their first Business Enterprise Project which was sponsored by Segro. The project was aimed between 16 and 25 years, who've got a business idea and help them get it off the ground. The Business Enterprise Project includes a free 5-day residential at Aston University’s Business School where candidates will learn everything they need to know about setting up their business, followed by personal mentoring, a grant of £500 and free office space.^[7]

Possible Expansions: Future

As of 2015, Sufra had been focused on expanding their charity, possible expansion sites include; Forest Gate, East London, Birmingham amongst others.

Partner Organisations

• Al-Mizan Charitable Trust^[8]
• Beta Charitable Trust
• My Community UK (resigned April 2014)
• Shia Ithna’Ashari Community of Middlesex
• Islamic Unity Society

References

External links

• Sufra Official Website