Thousands of people working across the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership are about to begin fasting to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
To mark the occasion Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership – made up of local NHS organisations, local councils, independent care organisations and the voluntary and community sector – is showing its support for staff fasting during the holy month of Ramadan and encouraging non-Muslims to also participate in fasting and raise money for charity.
Across the partnership organisations are gearing up for the month by showing support for their colleagues. At Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Fasting Fridays are planned for non-Muslim colleagues to take part in and experience alongside their Muslim colleagues and donate £3 to the Bradford Hospitals’ Charity. Fast packs will also be handed out for those fasting containing cool bags, dates, water bottle, disposable prayer mat and prayer timetable – all packaged in a handy drawstring bag.
For non-Muslim colleagues who wish to help their Muslim team members during the Holy Month they can also become a ‘Ramadan Ally’ and receive a ‘PROP Pack’ containing items to facilitate a pop-up prayer facility, helping wards run smoothly during the Holy Month.
Similar initiatives are taking place at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, which also includes opportunities for people to make voluntary donations to the respective charities for the two NHS trusts. Chaplaincy teams, including at Airedale Hospital, will also be visiting wards to speak to staff and patients to provide advice on the best way to support people observing Ramadan. Other partners will be sharing tips on how people can help those who are fasting, for example, by changing meeting times or understanding that some Muslims may not be fasting.
Professor Mel Pickup, place lead for Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, said: “During the Holy Month of Ramadan our Muslim colleagues enrich the atmosphere with their discipline, resilience and diversity, so I’m delighted to show my support for them by joining in Fasting Fridays.
“I also want to thank those colleagues for continuing to care for our local communities while fasting, and I hope that the support we will be offering during the Holy Month is a welcome gesture to bring our local partners together for a blessed Ramadan.”
Sasha Bhat, programme director for healthy minds at Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, said: “Ramadan for me is an opportunity to fill one of the core elements of my faith which is the fasting but also for me personally it’s a time for reflection and it’s a time to spend quality time with my maker. Through the acts of worship, fasting and prayer I feel really connected and committed to my faith and to my community.”
The partnership will be sharing health tips for people fasting on social media, please follow @ActAsOneBDC on Twitter.