BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) Project Update
The BAME women, as with all communities in Maiden Lane and St Pancras Way Estate are worried about cost of living, paying bills and food insecurities. Momota is planning workshops around financial planning but more needs to be done. Somali women in the group are looking after large families so cannot come out therefore have to text Momota asking for cooking oil or rice. Bangladeshi Women can come out more, but do not want to feel stigmatised by coming to the food bank for support. Momota has reassured them that they can text her or Amanda any time they are struggling to feed their families. The women are also worried that their husbands are sending money back home while they are struggling to pay bills. This is a wider social issue that the Centre cannot impact directly however, Momota, Amanda and the Director will meet in the next few weeks to devise a plan to make the foodbank more accessible to all and provide relief. We organised a Womens Safety Seminar with the local Community Police which was very useful, and very well attended.