Established in 2015, Purpose of Life is a charity that aims to help relieve the effects of poverty in Kirklees and around the world.
In Kirklees, the charity runs a food bank and hygiene pack bank that helps the most vulnerable in the community. Pre-Covid, the charity would also run a special supper every month for up to 100 guests, where they would provide hot meals, free haircuts, and makeup services.
Since the pandemic, the charity has had to change the way it operates, with them now running a free hot meal distribution service once a month for those in need alongside the food bank.
Chair of the charity, Mohammad Sajad Hussain, said: “The main work we do here in Kirklees is helping the community, building relationships, and feeding the homeless. We used to run the supper event every month which people in the community really used to look forward to and keep asking me to bring it back, but because of Covid-19 restrictions, we have had to change what we do.
“We now run a ‘grab and go’ service where people can come collect hot meals from us. We also run a food and hygiene bank in Batley. A lot of people sacrifice their hygiene to put food on the table which is why we give out packs of items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shower gel, and things like that.”
Mr Hussain who is a chemical engineer by profession set up the charity after wanting to give back to the community. He said: “Charity is a big part of my religion and what it means to be a Muslim. Creating a charity and giving back is something I always wanted to do. In a lot of ways, I think that this charity helps me more than anybody else.”
The charity has been in operation for more than six years however it has seen an increased demand in Kirklees since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Mr Hussain said: “A lot of people who were doing okay before the pandemic have had to start using the foodbank because of job losses and a lack of income.
“A lot of businesses in the area have had to shut down because of the pandemic. We run our food bank now seven days a week because of the demand for food and hygiene parcels. We help anyone in need in the community and serve a mixed bag. However, more white British people come to us. This might be because asking for help is still seen as a taboo subject in the South Asian community although more in the community are opening up.”
“Charity is a big part of my religion and what it means to be a Muslim. Creating a charity and giving back is something I always wanted to do. In a lot of ways, I think that this charity helps me more than anybody else.”
What makes the food bank that operates out of Batley is that they are fully customised to the individual’s needs. Mr Hussain said: “If the person or family needs things like tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits, then that is what we will give them. If an individual or family needs items such as oil, chillies, peppers, or spices then that is what we aim to give them. A lot of families also need items such as baby milk, wipes, and baby diapers, and so we aim to give these items to them too.”
The charity has a strict 100% donation policy, with all the money received going straight to their projects. Local supermarkets such as Asda Dewsbury, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s all support Purpose of Life by regularly donating food and hygiene items to be distributed.
Other projects they run include building water systems, orphanages for Rohyinga children, building mosques, and raising money for vulnerable communities across the globe including in South Africa, Jordan, Yemen, India, and Pakistan.
Rohingya people are an ethnic minority from the Rakhine province in Myanmar, previously Burma, who are facing an enormous refugee crisis. is. Over a million Rohingya people have fled to Bangladesh and live as refugees in overcrowded camps in locations prone to frequent natural disasters. Many of them are struggling to recover from traumatic experiences and to meet basic needs.
Purpose of Life decided this crisis cannot be ignored. They first travelled to Bangladesh in December 2017 and the UK Team have been several times since to help manage the dedicated team on the ground who are there permanently all year round.
An upcoming project that is currently in the concept stage is a mental health programme. This project, when fully realised, will build on the good work that they are currently doing in Kirklees.
To find out how to donate to Purpose of Life, you can visit here.
