Sufra NW London

Who we are

Sufra NW London is a vibrant Community Food and Support Hub based in the London Borough of Brent, run by a team of dedicated staff who work hard, have fun and love what they do. We are a well-established and widely recognised local charity providing a lifeline to people in crisis – including families living in extreme poverty and people who are vulnerable, homeless or socially isolated. We give our ‘guests’ the food and support they need to survive, empower them to learn new skills and improve their wellbeing, and help them to find work and become financially stable.

Sufra’s core work focuses on addressing the causes and consequences of hunger and poverty. We providing emergency food aid through our network of Food Banks and Community Kitchens, as well as our Community Shop and Cafe. But these are gateway services that enable our service guests to access a wider range of services and activities designed to address the root causes of poverty and homelessness. Our services include:

• Food Bank and Community Shop: Last year, we provided emergency food aid to over 4,000 people who cannot afford the basic cost of living. 
• Community Kitchen and Cafe: We serve a freshly cooked three-course vegetarian meals at different venues across Brent. 
• Welfare Advice Service: Our Advice Team helps people address the underlying problems that led them to our Food Bank – such as benefit disruptions, housing problems and other financial difficulties.
• Refugee Support: Our Refugee Resettlement Programme helps newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers access the housing, healthcare, training and jobs they need to build a new life in the community.
• St. Raphael’s Edible Garden: We’ve worked with local residents to turn an abandoned space on the estate into a Community Garden, where we offer horticulture courses and volunteering opportunities for local residents and people with additional mental/physical health needs. The space includes a teaching tipi, a wildlife pond, a chicken coop, and raised beds for growing vegetables and fruit.

Our culture and values

Each of our services is designed to lead vulnerable people on a personal journey from crisis to economic stability, social inclusion and active participation in the community. We rely heavily on our dedicated volunteers to ensure that we can deliver our services, and we work closely with local churches, mosques, schools and voluntary sector organisation for wide range of support.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Sufra celebrates the diversity of its community in Brent and embraces having a team of staff, volunteers and partners who mirror this diversity. Sufra NW London aims to ensure that as a community organisation and employer, no individual or group experiences discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the basis of any protected characteristic within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010.

Sufra works to foster an inclusive space for the community which promotes anti racism, acceptance and respect for all. We want everyone to feel valued and that they belong at Sufra, no matter their background, experience or identity. It is not only about creating a diverse environment but also about ensuring a culture exists where individuals in all their diversity feel welcome and accepted.

Sufra recognises that racism, discrimination, and prejudices maintain inequalities and disadvantages for many in our community whilst also perpetuating privilege and advantage for the few. Our work aims to uplift those in our Brent community who have been historically marginalised by providing transformative support and opportunity. At Sufra, we want our community to be accessible, we strive to remove or reduce the physical, technological, communication, and attitudinal barriers that may hinder guests, volunteers and staff from fully engaging in our work as possible. 

Sufra is committed to making access to our services, and opportunities equitable for all individuals, regardless of their background. At Sufra we recognise that different people have different needs and experiences, and that people require different resources and support to ensure they can succeed and thrive.

The intention of this policy is to ensure that all employees, volunteers, and service users—both potential and actual—are treated equally and as individuals, regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, religion or belief, or marriage or civil partnership status.