A food bank that has supported tens of thousands of struggling families over the past decade is set to close its doors this winter.

Tagged by Muhammad, an emergency food delivery service set up in Dundee, is to cease trading on December 17.

At its peak during Covid, volunteers were dropping off 50 food parcels a day.

But organizers say there is no longer enough demand for the outreach project in the city, where more than 25 food suppliers operate.

Faisal Hussein is the chief executive of social enterprise Yusuf Youth Initiative, which runs the service.

The decision to stop was taken after consultation with partner organizations.

He told STV News: “We have taken steps to alleviate the need for food banks.

“If we had done this years ago, we would have had 50 people relying on food banks week after week, and we would have had to find an alternative solution for them. Food reserves are now sufficient to mitigate this risk.

“My heart tells me to keep doing it, but my mind tells me this is the best way to move forward.”

Taught by Muhammad was launched in 2013 with the aim of tackling poverty in communities across Dundee.

In addition to its food bank, it runs community cafes in the centers of Charleston, Fintry, Kirkton and Douglas.

Faisal said the cafes, which will continue to operate, are “very important” in helping people struggling with mental health issues.

He spoke of a 90-year-old woman who had lost her husband of 50 years who came to the cafe every week.

“She told us about her life and the love she had for her husband. She told me: “I only go out to cafes.”

“Seeing how much it was appreciated is a powerful moment.”

It has also helped people like John Mitchell, 45, who has struggled with drug addiction since he was 13.

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He has been coming here almost every day of the week for 15 months.

“If it wasn’t for this place, I’d be out there all the time,” he said.

“This place saved us drug addicts. I don’t do a lot of drugs because of this place.

“The volunteers do an incredible job. They make you feel at home.

Anne Singleton, Support Café Coordinator, has been involved with the group for ten years.

She said: “They get a free three-course meal, but the main benefit is that they get to make friends and interact with others.

“For a lot of people, it’s the only time they go out. This was particularly striking after Covid. They said, “We haven’t been out of the house in years,” but thanks to the coffee we were able to encourage them to get out.

“Maybe you can’t solve their problems, but you can listen to them. You can make people feel that you care about them and that they are important.

“It makes a huge difference.”

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