Here is a list of things Sufra are doing (or are planning on doing) over the winter: 

Food Bank

Winter Warmer Coat Drive

We are collecting brand new or 'preloved' winter coats to distribute to 200 of our food bank guests before 25th November. The coats you donate will go to local Brent residents struggling to make ends meet, young families without enough money to buy new winter coats for their children, and refugees and asylum seekers in Brent, who are facing their first winter in the UK. Please leave any coats in our yellow bins outside of Mon-Fri 10am-5pm.

250 hampers for food bank guests

Throughout Christmas week, we aim to give out 250 hampers, one to each household that collects food parcels. These will include luxury food items (such as cheese, crackers, Christmas biscuits and a sparking soft drink) to supplement the food parcel, to ensure each household has something special to differentiate the day. Christmas gift vouchers and presents for families with children will be distributed as well.

Community Kitchen

Ark Elvin and LL

Our Community Kitchen at Laurence's Larder has reopened. Everyone is welcome to a free warm meal, so join us every Thursday at St Laurence’s Larder, Christchurch Ave, Willesden Ln, NW6 7BJ, 1.00pm – 3.00pm. Visit our volunteering page if you'd like to help us cook for the community and those who are more vulnerable.

We have also launched a new Community Kitchen in partnership with the Raheem Sterling Foundation and local school Ark Elvin Academy. We're currently serving over 100 guests each night! Every Wednesday from Ark Elvin Academy, Cecil Avenue, HA9 7DU, from 6.00pm to 8.00pm (closed over Christmas).

Christmas Dinner

This year we will be cooking Christmas Dinner for 200. We will host a sit-down meal for guests, where everyone can enjoy a Christmas Dinner with all of the trimmings, alongside crackers, drinks and Christmas cheer. There will be entertainment, including carol singing and board games. The objective is to ensure no Sufra guest spends Christmas alone.

Community Garden

Christmas Activities for Children

We will be running arts & crafts, cooking and garden activities in the garden for children aged 6-11 (and eligible for Free School Meals) in the weeks before and after Christmas. Keep an eye out for our website, social media and newsletter to find out how to sign up.

St Raph’s Winter Fair 

On Saturday 17th December, we will be hosting our annual Winter Fair in St. Raphael's Edible Garden, alongside the St. Raphael's Family Wellbeing Centre. Expect to find seasonal decorations, delicious food, christmas music, potentially, maybe, perhaps - caroling? 😉 More info to be released soon...

Advice and OpenARMs services  

Winter Warmer Supper Club 

Sufra are hosting their second Supper Club, hosted in collaboration with the Hampstead Kitchen and the Maqam Centre. The theme is Yaldā Night, a Persian and Afghan winter solstice festival and our guest chefs will be asylum seekers, refugees and migrants supported by our OpenARMS Programme. Friday 2nd December, 19.00-22.00. This is an intimate event in a gorgeous venue, so buy your tickets now!

Winter Warmer Workshops

Our Advice Drop-Ins are often visited by guests who are struggling to understand their energy bills and struggle with fuel poverty. To help combat this, Sufra are partnering with Green Doctors and Advice For Renters to provide 2 Winter Warmer workshops for our guests, teaching them about what funds and grants are open for them to access at the moment and what other support they can receive. The workshops are open to Food Bank guests on Mon 21st and 28th November, and any guests who sign up will be eligible to receive a plethora of energy-saving and winter-warming goodies.