Community Engagement at Al Ikhlas Cultural and Education Centre, Cardiff

When we arrived at the food bank at Al Ikhlas Cultural and Educational Centre in Cardiff, two volunteers were hard at work dividing the food from boxes into individual carrier bags. What was most striking is the array of fresh fruits and vegetables being shared, including broccoli, lettuce, red peppers, clementines, onions, potatoes, and strawberries, in addition to dry store cupboard essentials.

Another volunteer arrived straight after his night shift, full of cheer and prepared to front the show, as he sat at a table in front of the door ready to open up for the community members who frequent the food bank. The friendliness of the volunteers towards the people who use the food bank created a welcoming atmosphere, and it was clear that many positive relationships had been built up over the months and years, impacting the emotional as well as physical health of all involved.

Community Cohesion

A notable point is that the centre forms part of a mosque and is run by the Muslim community, yet people from a wide range of ethnic minority groups have been using the food bank services. In addition, people from the local White Welsh community are using the food bank, which shows how community cohesion and relations have developed and strengthened in these hard times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One man who frequently uses the food bank was waiting outside patiently with his dog. When a delivery arrived, he quickly tied his dog’s lead to a post and carried in the boxes of food to help out a little before collecting his own share of the food being distributed.

Meeting Needs

There is a wide choice of foodstuff and other personal items available to the people, and the volunteers are always on their toes, responding quickly to extra requests for additional items such as jars of baby food, sanitary towels, cereal bars, and specific types of bread and vegetables. While the sharing of food is going on, there is a positive atmosphere at the centre between the volunteers and the users of the food bank.

Research and Recruitment

We have found that the mood here offers an environment that is conducive to engaging potential participants for the Co-POWeR project. Our fieldwork at Al Ikhlas Cultural and Educational Centre is focusing on health and nutrition, and we are exploring ways to communicate the experiences of the people through research which includes creative outputs and a documentary film.

We are looking for more organisations and people to share their experiences of how their lives have changed since the pandemic.

Please contact florence.ayisi@southwales.ac.uk or wendy.booth2@southwales.ac.uk if you would like to be part of a documentary film on this.

Blog post by Dr Wendy Booth