Taught by Muhammad foodbank supporting thousands of families in Dundee to close after a decade

A foodbank which has supported tens of thousands of struggling families over the last decade is set to close this winter.

Taught by Muhammad, an emergency food delivery service set up in Dundee, is to cease operations on December 17.

At its peak during Covid, volunteers were dropping off 50 food parcels a day.

But organisers say there is no longer enough demand for the outreach project in the city with over 25 food providers in operation.

Faisal Hussein is the chief executive of social enterprise Yusuf Youth Initiative, which runs the service.

The decision to stop was reached following consultation with partner organisations.

He told STV News: “We took steps to mitigate the need for food banks.

“If we had done this years ago, we would have had 50 people relying on food banks week to week, and we would have had to find an alternative solution for them. There is now enough food provision to mitigate that risk.

“My heart says to continue doing it but the mind says it’s the best way to move forward.”

Taught by Muhammad was launched in 2013 in a bid to tackle poverty in communities in Dundee.

In addition to its foodbank, it runs community cafes in centres in Charleston, Fintry, Kirkton and Douglas.

Faisal said the cafes, which will continue to run, are “very important” in helping people struggling with their mental health.

He spoke about a 90-year-old woman who had lost her husband of 50 years who came to the cafe every single week.

“She would tell us about her life and the love she had for her husband. She told me ‘I don’t go out apart from the cafe.’

“To see how appreciated it’s been is a powerful moment.”

It has also helped people like John Mitchell, 45, who’s battled drug addictions since the age of 13.

Foodbank to shut down after over a decade helping Dundee families STV News

He has been coming here most days of the week for 15 months.

“If it wasn’t for this place I’d be out there, out my face all the time,” he said.

“This place has saved us, being a drug addict. I’m off a lot of drugs because of this place.

“The volunteers do an amazing job. They make you feel at home.”

Support cafe coordinator Anne Singleton has been involved with the group for ten years.

She said: “They get a free three-course meal, but the main benefit is that they get to make friends and interact with others.

“For many people, it’s the only time they get out. It was especially striking after Covid. They said, ‘We haven’t been out of the house for years,’ but because of the cafe, we were able to encourage them to come out.

“Maybe you can’t solve their problems, but you can listen to them. You can make people feel that you care about them and that they are important.

“It makes a huge difference.”