KidsOut teams up with Diwali charity to bring joy to Luton families in refuge

A children’s charity in Leighton Buzzard has partnered with the Diwali Basket Brigade to provide food hampers to families in refuge in Luton.

The hampers have been prepared by the Basket Brigade and collected by KidsOut to be distributed to families in need living in partner women’s refuges.

The Diwali Basket Brigade voluntary initiative provides food hampers to vulnerable and socially deprived families from all faiths and backgrounds.

The families have been nominated by local charities and community-based organisations, like KidsOut, and identified as most in need, struggling to feed themselves and their children.

The 200 hampers delivered by KidsOut to refuges in Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Luton, and Aylesbury, are part of a broader initiative that will see 2,000 hampers distributed to families in London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

Diwali is the Festival of Light celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. Founder Deepak Parekh started Diwali Basket Brigade as a way for the community to give back at this auspicious time.

Deepak said: “Diwali is a time of celebration and happiness. But unfortunately, there are many families in our local communities who have little to cheer about, who struggle to make ends meet and feel rejected.

"Diwali Basket Brigade is our small effort to support and spread the message of Diwali - the message of hope, happiness and giving.”

The families nominated by KidsOut are those who have survived domestic violence and are living in women’s refuges.

Life can often be tough for families in refuge, with this year harder than usual because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Most families arrive at refuge with only the clothes on their back, with mothers often struggling to provide the basic essentials.

“We are so excited to be teaming up with the Diwali Basket Brigade for the third year running for the food hamper initiative,” said Sandra Doherty, Head of Children’s Services at KidsOut.

"Lockdown restrictions have seen a sharp rise in domestic violence, with the children and mothers we help often fleeing to refuge with little means to support themselves.

"These food hampers will relieve some of the immediate pressures facing mothers in refuge, showing that there is still kindness in these challenging times.”

The special Diwali baskets are funded by donations from across the community. They include healthy vegetarian food, a Diwali ‘Diya’ candlelight and, this year, helpful hygiene products including masks and hand gels.

This is all thanks to the generous and kind donations received, over £20,000 has been raised.

On Saturday, November 7, KidsOut collected the hampers and delivered them to families in refuges in Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Luton, and Aylesbury ahead of this year’s Diwali celebrations on Saturday, November 14.

KidsOut works throughout the year to ensure the mental and physical welfare of children in refuge is being supported.

This festive season, the charity aims to ensure that every child in refuge receives a box of brand-new toys.

Members of the public are invited to help with this and take part in KidsOut’s Giving Tree, the charity’s annual Christmas toy appeal. For more information visit: www.kidsout.org.uk/givingtree.