This year marks Khidmat Centres 10th year of providing free Christmas lunches to elderly residents across the district along with hampers for refugees.

The Bradford community organisation has previously hosted a Christmas lunch; however, because of the pandemic over the past two years, they have offered a delivery service.

Volunteers distribute the Christmas Lunches across the district and stop to have a chat with elderly residents who dress up for the delivery.

Sofia Buncy DL, National Coordinator said: “This year, we continue to see the adverse impact which the pandemic continues to have on individuals and families by way of food poverty, loneliness and isolation.

“We have noted an increased demand for our hot meal provision for elders and at the same time are hugely encouraged by the new partners joining our initiative such as the Young in Covid team and West Yorkshire Police to meet increasing demands on packing and deliveries.”

This year, West Yorkshire Police have been invited down to help pack hampers for distribution along with some of the young people involved with Young in Covid.

Khidmat Centres also make and distribute hampers to those struggling across Bradford, Including refugee families through BIASAN.

Each year, when the party is hosted, a local artist creates a backdrop for the Lunch; this year Aamta- Tul Baleem, along with her one-year-old daughter created a festive canvas.

Chairperson of the Khidmat Centres Yousuf Sidat said: “It gives me a great sense of pride that Khidmat Centres has reached its 10-year milestone journey of consistently providing a Christmas Day hot meal provision to elders in Bradford on Christmas Day as well as offering support to refugee families by way of Christmas hampers. The initiative is years of endeavours to reach out to the most vulnerable members of our society, to make them feel part of the Bradfordian family in these days of prayers and festivities.”

“It is a pleasure to once again be leading this year’s Christmas dinner for elders and hamper initiative for refugee families on the part of Khidmat Centres on their landmark tenth anniversary. We have endeavoured to make each year special and one that everybody involved will remember.