Aisha Sheikh and her husband Naheem Sheikh each lost a parent to Covid-19 just 12 days apart and these shocking events and sense of deep loss prompted a dramatic change in their lives.

They are both key workers and teachers in Newham and their personal loss in the health emergency not only highlighted the levels of social inequalities in Newham, but it ignited a spark of goodwill and like many others they became involved in the charitable sector.

Aisha and Naheem teamed up with Morrison’s Champion Lufta Begum via a Covid WhatsApp group where they volunteered countless hours throughout the year to deliver food parcels to vulnerable families.

With the run up to Christmas and with many vulnerable families living through tier 4 restrictions, Mr and Mrs Sheikh were concerned about how the elderly and disadvantaged families would cope.

Aisha, a senior manager at Ranelagh Primary school and Naheem Sheikh head of year 10 at Forest Gate Community School, decided to draw on their connections to deliver weekly food parcels to vulnerable children and families.

Mrs Sheikh said:

Some families often go without through fear of embarrassment and reluctance to use food banks. I know another family had children with asthma and couldn’t get to the shops. Thanks to the school’s database we could identify those most vulnerable and get parcels to the families that needed them most.

As teachers the couple wanted to do something extra special for Christmas and through collaboration managed to ensure every child at Brampton Primary received a Christmas present.

“Through virtual raffles and generous donations from Arriva International in Canary Wharf we were able to make this possible. Children have had such a hard year, with their education and social activities disrupted, we felt it was important that each and every child have a present,” says Mrs Sheikh.

Naheem said he also learned the importance of solidarity in his family life. “My father Abdul Karim Sheikh devoted his life to the community,” he said. “He was councillor, ceremonial mayor from 1998-99 and he started the first mosque here in Newham. I will never forget how he was acknowledged for his service to the community when he was awarded a British Empire Medal.”

“Although it was a very hard time for us both we desperately wanted to continue our parents’ legacy by showing compassion to our community. Giving back has helped us immensely,” said Mrs Sheikh.

Mrs Sheikh added:

When you see the smiles on their faces and the tears of gratitude it makes it all worthwhile. We really want to give children a special Christmas, and in our parents’ memory do whatever we can to help. My mother Parveen Fayyaz was 76 when she died but did so much for her community throughout her years. Now it’s our turn.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.