11:34am Friday 26th June 2009
By Emma Clayton
Sixteen years ago, a builder called Lashman Singh set up the Bradford Curry Project, a drop-in service providing hot meals for homeless people.
Run by volunteers, the project was well-used, and its doors were opened several times a week. But Lashman felt there was more he could be doing to help people in need.
While the Curry Project – so-called because curry is a generic Asian term for food, just as ‘soup kitchen’ serves meals, not just soup – helped people in the city, Lashman wanted to reach those further afield, around the Bradford district.
In 2006, he launched the Bradford Food Bank, a charity aimed at supplying food to families and individuals who are homeless or living in sub-standard accommodation and struggling financially. Instead of providing food on a drop-in basis, the food bank distributes donations, via community leaders.
Donations of non-perishable food are collected and stored by volunteers at the former St Mary’s nursery in Barkerend, then distributed district-wide.
The project caught the eye of photographer Tony O’Connell, who took pictures of volunteers for his Acts Of Kindness exhibition, currently running at St Peter’s House in Bradford.
Since its launch, the food bank has helped hundreds of people. Six months after its launch, the scheme nearly folded due to lack of food supplies. An appeal in the Telegraph & Argus boosted donations – but now Lashman says supplies are drying up again. With demand exceeding supply, the charity is having to buy food to hand out.
The blow comes as it is revealed that Bradford is one of the most deprived cities in the region. Yesterday the T&A reported that the Regional Trends report, published by the Office For National Statistics, showed that 41 per cent of areas across the district are among the most deprived in the country. The report measured deprivation by factors such as low income, unemployment, lack of education, poor health and crime.
The food bank relies solely on donations of food and money from individuals and organisations such as schools and churches. There are few running costs, but a small amount of money is needed to cover administration. Now the cash is being spent on food.
“Over recent months there has been a drastic reduction. The amount of food boxes we’re making up has more than doubled,” says Lashman. “The current economic climate has hit us hard – it means people are giving less to charity, but it also means more people are being forced into poverty, so they need our help.
“We’ve seen a rise in demand for baby food, in particular. Just because a family isn’t technically homeless doesn’t mean they’re not desperate. Many people live in poor-quality accommodation with little in the way of cooking facilities.
“There are increasing numbers of asylum seekers using the service too. There’s a misconception that people come to this country seeking handouts, but in reality when they arrive, they’re totally bewildered and have no idea how the system works. They end up relying on services like ours to survive.”
The charity distributes donated food to families and individuals through organisations working in communities where there’s a need. On average, 40 or 50 boxes are produced a week, compared with about 25 a year ago.
“There are no direct handovers of food,” says Lashman. “Donations must be applied for in writing, then sent out via the distributors. We work with representatives from charities, community groups, religious organisations, school breakfast clubs, lunch clubs, GPs’ practices, mental health services, asylum seeker services, and other groups working with people in need.”
Earlier this year representatives from the food bank met the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David James, who contacted churches asking for support for the scheme.
“There wasn’t a big response,” says Lashman. “Ideally we’d like the support of churches, mosques and temples. If they all gave us a donation, it would be a huge help. The people we help are from all backgrounds and cultures.
“We’re not asking for a fortune – just some donations of tinned or dried food. It’s not like we’re asking for thousands of pounds.
“At the end of the day, we feed those who are hungry but we’re running out of food and the situation is becoming drastic.
“We’d love it if people could organise a collection in their street or local pub. This is a chance for us all to be heroes and do our bit for those less fortunate. A simple act of kindness – that’s all we ask.” If anyone would like to donate non-perishable food, or find out more about Bradford Food Bank, ring (01274) 521028.
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