Sadaka provides free weekly lunches and basic items for those struggling financially / displaced/homeless in Reading. Sadaka provides a place to enjoy a hot meal, hot/cold drinks and a chat, at Fairview Community Centre, 90b Great Knollys Street, Reading RG1 7HL. Sadaka operates every Saturday (11:30am-1:30pm). We also provide free toiletries, secondhand books and clothing; fruit/ambient food and sign-posting to similar services.
However, since 17 March 2020, all public buildings in Reading have been closed and so, throughout the pandemic, Sadaka has had to adapt its service to a takeaway food bag service only, and in the outdoors as we do not have our own premises. Sadaka has also launched a training programme for its service users who want to improve their quality of life, since September 2020 called StepUpwithSadaka.
CHARITABLE OBJECTS:
1) The prevention and relief of poverty and financial hardship in greater Reading by providing: food, clothing and basic household items to individuals in need and supporting other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty in greater reading
2) The promotion of equality and diversity for the public benefit by promoting activities to foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds and in particular, different religions.
3) The promotion of religious harmony for the benefit of the public by:
(a) Educating the public in different religious beliefs including an awareness of their distinctive features and their common ground to promote good relations between persons of different faiths;
(b) Promoting knowledge and mutual understanding and respect of the beliefs and practices of different religious faiths.
4) To advance Islam in greater Reading for the benefit of the public, in particular by arranging visits to mosques by school children to enlighten them about the Muslim faith and by such other means as the trustees may determine.
Please Note: Sadaka contacted Charity Commission on 14 Feb 2020 to amend objective 4) to:
“To work towards a greater understanding of Islam by demonstrating the public good contributed by its followers, together with people of other beliefs and no beliefs”. But, this request was rejected. Nothing further was done about this in 2020, as the charity's focus was on adapting to and continuing to provide its services throughout the pandemic, despite restrictions.
The charity has supported the relief of poverty and financial hardship in Greater Reading via a twice weekly free, nutritional, warm meal service, provided alongside, toiletries and ambient food to those struggling financially, including refugees who have been accommodated in Reading during the pandemic. We have extended our meal service to both Saturdays and Sundays. Sadaka has also launched an ESFA and ESF funded training programme since September 2020, called StepUpwithSadaka It is for those service users who wish to improve their quality of life, with an opportunity to take up courses at local colleges in basic skills, job-related and employability skills.
Having had to provide this service outdoors, Sadaka trustees and volunteers have been able to personally engage less with service users especially due to social distancing requirements. However, Sadaka has been able to directly refer beneficiaries to local existing organisations to ensure support is provided wherever it was identified.
Reading Borough Council is one of Sadaka's partners. It supplied tons of ambient food and fresh vegetables, fruit and meat, during the first lockdown to local charities including Sadaka (worth in excess of £1k). Sadaka also continued to receive donated toiletries from Clean Conscience and distribute these along with the food bags. Its other partners are local charities like New Beginnings, University of Reading's society for students living off-campus (RUSOC) and the corporate donor, OpenText.
Sadaka services are available to all beneficiaries without judgement or bias. The charity is privileged to have trustees, members and volunteers from a diversity of faiths/beliefs and all are valued equally. Sadaka operates with an ethos whereby “everyone matters” and respect for others is central to all our actions. In 2020, Sadaka has reiterated its commitment to an open, supportive and inclusive philosophy.
