Maruf’s story: “You treated me with compassion and now I’m giving something back!”

Maruf lives near our Community Centre. His family, including a wife and two young children, are from overseas, have lived in London for more than ten years, and have a legal right to remain in the UK.

Despite working, and the children being born here, their immigration status contains a ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) condition. This means they are not allowed to access healthcare or emergency welfare support. He therefore visited us for an emergency food parcel when his job ended abruptly during lockdown.

Maruf was so happy to get help that he decided to volunteer with us at the foodbank regularly – even while fasting for Ramadan – and we committed to providing emergency food parcels for his family for as long as they need support.

He says: “I’m so grateful for the way your team treated us with dignity and compassion and now I’m able to give something back to the community by volunteering!”