A COMMUNITY kitchen project in Tang Hall, York, that seeks to help the vulnerable has celebrated a successful first year.

York Mosque Community Kitchen is a charity kitchen held at York Mosque every other Thursday from 12pm-1.30pm and sees the doors opened to anyone in need of a safe place, a friendly face, or a hot meal.

The concept behind the project is a guest kitchen scheme with various food establishments – from Miller’s Fish and Chips to local Indian restaurants – catering the event or sponsoring the mosque’s own chefs to create a menu.

RECOMMENDED READING:

The group then close their main prayer room temporarily so it can become a makeshift dining room for anyone who wants to come in and eat. 

This structure and a dedicated team of volunteers has allowed the group to stretch its original grant from Joseph Rowntree Trust to last for at least five years.

For the anniversary, speakers from the police and different faith groups across the city spoke in solidarity and support of the kitchen.

Some of the tables at the eventSome of the tables at the event (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

According to one of the event’s founders, Faizal Mohamudbuccus, the first event had five attendees and has since expanded, through word of mouth and social media alone, to host around 90 to 100 people each time.

Faizal said: “The beauty of it is that every event, someone new comes along. It’s a really proud achievement and the word is spreading.

“The main aim was to provide food and a warm place. One of the main pillars in Islam is charity and we take such pride in being a part of the wider community – this project helps us break down barriers and show unity and we’re so proud to do it.”

The group is currently in the process of establishing a charitable model so it can act as a beacon to other mosques and spread the project around the country.

The kitchen’s second cofounder, Mebs Surve, also spoke about the importance of the group as a safe place for anyone in the local community to go.

He said: “We’re also hoping to break that spiral of negativity that you often see in the mass media. No matter where you’re from - you can come here, eat a hot meal, and feel safe.

“People have such routines, going to work and interacting with the same people every day, and it doesn’t always enrich their lives. Here, we can engage people through conversation.”

Other attendees included members of the local police, refugees, local politicians, and supporters of the event.

Hull Road ward councillor Dr John Maroney praised the project saying: “The first time I came down here was in August to offer the community my support, but the type of people that they are, they invited me in to join them for lunch.

“The atmosphere in here is quite extraordinary – people are lovely, selfless, and smiling. I was also so impressed with the work – the joint statement from the Imam and Rabbi - for the interfaith communities. It’s just so humbling.”

One volunteer, Isabella, shared how happy she felt to contribute to the kitchen – having come to help for the second time – and a second, Peter, spoke about how he wanted to give back to a community who had given to him.

He continued: “York is a city of sanctuary but how often do we sit across the table from people who are different to us?”