Hundreds of volunteers pack Diwali food hampers in Hockley for families in need

Around 300 volunteers gathered in Hockley on Saturday to pack food hampers for families struggling with the cost of living, in a Diwali tradition that has now reached its ninth year.

The Diwali Basket Brigade took over the RSRS Centre in Hockley for the day, with people from a wide mix of backgrounds filling bags with groceries in the run-up to the festival of light. The event was organised by The Diwali Foundation, a charity based in Herefordshire that works with about 40 food banks and charities to reach households in need.

Light over darkness

Deepak Parekh, the founder of the initiative, told the BBC that the pressure on household budgets had not gone away.

"[The] cost of living crisis hasn't gone away... but Diwali is a celebration of light over darkness, and this is our little way of bringing some light and some hope into the families that need it most," he said.

The foundation says more than 12% of UK households are experiencing food poverty. Since it began, the charity says it has handed out around 23,470 food hampers.

For the volunteers, the work was a reminder of who would be opening the bags. Clare Hannah, who was packing parcels on the day, said: "You're thinking about, 'oh I wonder what they're going to make with this'. And the fact that this is all that they've got, for some people."

Straight to the doorstep

Parcels packed in Hockley were taken to residents living in homes provided by Walsall Housing Group, known as whg. Faye Shanahan, from the housing group, said the hampers would make a real difference.

"It's really tough out there. Our customers are having a really hard time. The cost of living is not easing," she said.

"Events like this today are really, really fantastic. It makes an absolutely fantastic difference to our customers."

One of those receiving a parcel was John Whiting, who turned 80 on the same day. He described his hamper as "unbelievable", adding: "There are a lot of people out there that've got nothing."

A national effort

Birmingham was one of several cities taking part this weekend. A packing event was also held in London on Saturday, with Manchester and Leicester following on Sunday.

Organisers have set a target of 6,000 hampers this year. Reaching it would beat their 2025 record, when the brigade provided more than 80,000 meals.

Diwali, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, is one of the biggest festivals in Birmingham's calendar, and the weeks around it are traditionally a time for giving as well as celebration. With the festival falling on 8 November this year, the Hockley event turns that spirit into something practical: a full bag of food on the table for families who need it.

The foundation's model relies on local people giving a few hours of their time, and on partners such as food banks and housing providers who know which households are struggling. Saturday's turnout suggests there is no shortage of people in Birmingham willing to help.