Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Ramadan: Chelsea Foundation launches Open Iftar at Stamford Bridge

Open Iftar is the UK’s largest community event during Ramadan, providing Muslims observing the fast with an opportunity to break it together

Ramadan: Chelsea Foundation launches Open Iftar at Stamford Bridge

On Sunday (26), the Chelsea Foundation started an Open Iftar at Stamford Bridge, which is a first for the club and a Premier League stadium.

The event was announced earlier, as the club pledged to champion the first-ever open Iftar during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.


Open Iftar is the UK's largest community event during Ramadan, providing Muslims observing the fast with an opportunity to break it together, while also creating a safe environment for dialogue and engagement.

A number of local mosques and members of the Muslim community, including supporters and school students, were invited to attend the Open Iftar event alongside Chelsea FC staff.

The event was organised in collaboration with the Ramadan Tent Project, an award-winning charity established in 2013 with the aim of promoting community cohesion and enhancing understanding of Ramadan.

This year, the Ramadan Tent Project celebrated their 10th anniversary and continued to organise the annual Ramadan Festival – a yearly celebration of art, culture, and creativity inspired by the holy month of Ramadan.

Omar Salha, founder, and CEO of the Ramadan Tent Project, said, "For the past decade Ramadan Tent Project has connected and convened over half-a-million people from all backgrounds through its annual Ramadan Festival and flagship initiative Open Iftar.

"We are honoured to bring Open Iftar to Stamford Bridge, on the occasion of our 10-year anniversary and our 2023 theme of “Belonging”, and work in partnership with Chelsea FC who have been driving inclusivity in football. To such an extent, the “Pride of London” will be the first Premier League club in history to host an Open Iftar event.

"Football and Ramadan brings people together over shared experiences and we are thrilled to share this important celebration with football supporters from all backgrounds, representing a community of communities."

Ramadan is recognised at Chelsea FC and Chelsea Foundation as part of the No To Hate campaign, a club-wide programme dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion and targeting hate and discrimination while educating stakeholders within and outside of Chelsea FC and football.

No To Hate's key focus area includes promoting religious tolerance, with other religious festivals highlighted throughout the year.

Simon Taylor, head of Chelsea Foundation, expressed his delight in announcing the Open Iftar event in collaboration with the Ramadan Tent Project.

More For You

Virgin-Atlantic-iStock

The flight departed from London Heathrow at 11:40am BST on 2 April and was scheduled to arrive in Mumbai at 8:10pm BST. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

London-Mumbai Virgin Atlantic flight diverted, passengers stranded for over 40 hours

PASSENGERS on Virgin Atlantic flight VS358 from London Heathrow to Mumbai faced significant delays—now over 40 hours—after the aircraft was diverted to Turkey due to a medical emergency, followed by technical inspections.

Passengers have criticised the airline for leaving them in “awful” conditions for two days at an airport with limited facilities.

Keep ReadingShow less
snowstorm across England

The sunshine might soon be swapped for snowflakes in several regions

Getty

Weather forecast warns of mid-April snowstorm across England

After enjoying the sunniest March on record, Britain is in for an unexpected turn in the weather this April, with forecasts pointing to a blast of wintry conditions. According to weather maps from WX Charts, snow could make a widespread return across England and Wales in mid-April, accompanied by a sharp dip in temperatures.

While spring is officially underway and warmer days have given a welcome taste of summer ahead, it seems the sunshine might soon be swapped for snowflakes in several regions. This sudden change could temporarily put a stop to the dry and sunny spell many have enjoyed so far this month.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Staff sickness still high at Birmingham hospitals'

The report said an action plan has been developed and was now in place to try to tackle the issues causing the sickness absences.

'Staff sickness still high at Birmingham hospitals'

Gurdip Thandi

CONCERNS remain about the high level of sickness suffered among staff at hospitals in Birmingham.

Bosses at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said they “need to do a lot more” in terms of bringing sick levels down and looking at their existing measures to see how effective they are.

Keep ReadingShow less
Streeting: Health deal signals new era in UK-India relations

Catherine West, Wes Streeting and Seema Malhotra

Streeting: Health deal signals new era in UK-India relations

THE recent UK–India health and life sciences agreement will strengthen cooperation on healthcare innovation and security in both countries, health secretary Wes Streeting said.

He also paid tribute to British Asians, saying the communities were pivotal in the growth of the NHS since its inception in 1948.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Jagtar Singh Johal in solitary confinement in India'
Jagtar Singh Johal (Image credit: Facebook/Free Jaggi Now)

'Jagtar Singh Johal in solitary confinement in India'

A British Sikh activist remains in solitary confinement in an Indian prison, despite being cleared of terrorism charges by a Punjab court last month, reported The Guardian.

Jagtar Singh Johal's family said that he is under constant surveillance, with no access to other prisoners, and fear for his mental and physical health.

Keep ReadingShow less